Mikel Arteta

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Mikel Arteta
Personal information
Full name Mikel Amatriain Arteta
Date of birth March 26, 1982
Place of birth San Sebastián, Spain
Height 1.76m
Nickname Mikky / Our Tater
Position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Everton
Number 6
Youth clubs
1997–2002 FC Barcelona B
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
2000-2002
2002–2004
2004–2005
2005–
 Paris Saint-Germain
Rangers F.C.
Real Sociedad
Everton F.C.		 31 (2)
50 (12)
15 (1)
63 (7)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of December 11 2006 (UTC).
** National team caps and goals correct
as of July 23 2006 (UTC).

Mikel Amatriain Arteta (born March 26, 1982 in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain) is a football (soccer) player. He is an attacking midfield player, currently playing for English Premiership club Everton.

He began his football career at FC Barcelona B squad at 15 years of age. After 3 years of mediocrity he had a loan spell in 2000 with Paris Saint-Germain (where he played alongside Ronaldinho). He joined Scottish club Rangers in 2002 for £6m where he remained for two seasons, winning the 2003 Scottish Premier League title as well as the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. He enjoyed a successful first season at Rangers and quickly established himself as a first team regular and a fans favourite. But unfortunately injuries and loss of form blighted his second season and he was forced to move on once again.

He joined Real Sociedad in 2004 as a replacement for Liverpool bound Xabi Alonso but failed to establish himself in the team and was loaned out to Everton in the 2005 January transfer window with a view to a permanent transfer if the loan went well.

He played a vital part of helping Everton reach UEFA Champions League qualification and after the departure of Thomas Gravesen, Arteta filled the gap left by the Danish midfielder. He capitalised on his half-season form scoring with a free kick in the 4-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, and sealed his permanent transfer to Everton that summer, putting pen to paper on a five year deal on the 15 July 2005 - Arteta was signed permanently by the Merseyside club for a fee of £2 million.

On May 2, 2006, at the Everton end of season awards ceremony, Mikel Arteta picked up the Player of the Season Award as voted by the fans on the Everton website. He also was voted the Player's Player of the Season by his teammates. He had this to say; "It means a lot when it comes from your teammates. It is a very special club, with special fans and special players. It is very difficult to find players like we have here and I am very happy to play at this club." [1]

Arteta has also played for Spain U21s, and his current form for Everton has been met with calls from manager David Moyes for him to be selected for the full national squad. [2]

Arteta's form has been extended into the 2006-2007 season, and as well as retaining his starting place, has turned in some man-of-the-match displays, as underlined in the Premier League match against Bolton in which Arteta, sensing a scoring opportunity, fired the ball into the top corner of the Bolton goal to give Everton a 1-0 win.

Altough Arteta is already appreciated greatly by fans and players alike; underlined by the awards picked up by the end of 2005/2006, the injured Tim Cahill recently took time to watch Mikel play and commented on how much he made an impact on Everton's game.

Arteta is known for distance strikes on the training ground[citation needed], hitting balls from 25 meters out with power and accuracy.

[edit] Miscellaneous

  • He is close friends with Xabi Alonso, who plays for Everton's rivals Liverpool[1][2].
  • He is dating Lorena Bernal, former Miss Spain.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Arteta Aims To Reign For Spain. Retrieved on 28 November 2006.
  2. ^ Arteta puts friendship on hold as Everton eye Europe. Retrieved on 28 November 2006.

[edit] External links


Everton F.C. - Current Squad

1 Wright | 2 Hibbert | 3 Naysmith | 4 Yobo | 5 Weir | 6 Arteta | 7 Van der Meyde | 8 Johnson | 9 Beattie | 10 Davies | 11 McFadden | 15 Stubbs | 16 Lescott | 17 Cahill | 18 Neville | 19 Valente | 21 Osman | 22 Vaughan | 23 Pistone | 24 Howard | 26 Carsley | 28 Anichebe | 30 Ruddy | 31 Hughes | 36 Boyle | 41 Viðarsson | Manager: Moyes
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