Miguel Ángel Nadal

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Miguel Ángel Nadal

Nadal in training with Spain
Personal information
Full nameMiguel Ángel Nadal Homar
Date of birth (1966-07-28) 28 July 1966
Place of birthManacor, Spain
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionDefender / Midfielder
Youth career
1980–1983Manacor
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1983–1986Manacor
1986–1987Mallorca B
1987–1991Mallorca130(22)
1991–1999Barcelona208(12)
1999–2005Mallorca149(6)
Total487(40)
National team
1991–2002Spain62(3)
Teams managed
2010–2011Mallorca (assistant)
2011Mallorca (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Nadal and the second or maternal family name is Homar.

Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɣel ˈaŋxel naˈðal oˈmar]; born 28 July 1966) is a Spanish retired footballer. Nicknamed The Beast,[1] he based his game in a tremendous physical display, also being adaptable to various defender and midfielder positions.

He began and ended his career with Mallorca, but his greatest achievements came whilst at Barcelona during the so-called Dream Team era. During 19 professional seasons, he played in 492 matches (462 of those in La Liga).

A very important part of Spain's setup during the 1990s, Nadal represented the nation in three World Cups and at Euro 1996.

Miguel Ángel Nadal is the brother of tennis coach Toni Nadal and the uncle of professional tennis player Rafael Nadal.

Club career

Born in Manacor, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Nadal made his debuts in the La Liga with local RCD Mallorca, first appearing on 19 April 1987 against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou. In his final two seasons, after helping in a 1989 promotion from Segunda División, he scored 12 goals from 72 league appearances, thus being acquired by the Catalonia outfit for 1991–92.

With Barça, under Johan Cruyff, Nadal was a very important part in the conquest of five leagues, two Copa del Rey and the 1992 European Cup, playing in over 300 overall games and occupying several defensive positions in both the back-four and in midfield. In his last season, however, ostracized by another Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal, he only appeared in two matches; in 1996 and 1997 he was linked with a transfer to Manchester United, but the move to the Premier League never materialized.[1]

Subsequently Nadal returned to Mallorca, starting strong and only missing 11 contests in his first three years combined, while also being important in the 2003 Copa conquest. He retired from the game at almost 39,[2] having appeared in nearly 700 official matches.

In July 2010, five years after his retirement, Nadal returned to Mallorca, joining the coaching staff under Michael Laudrup, his Barcelona teammate during three seasons. As the Dane left the club in late September 2011 following a run-in with director Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, Nadal was in charge for one game, a 2–2 away draw against CA Osasuna, but he too left the following week.

International career

Nadal earned 62 caps representing Spain, his debut coming on 13 November 1991 in a meaningless UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier against Czechoslovakia (the national team had virtually no chances of reaching the finals in Sweden). He went on to appear with the country in three FIFA World Cups.

Additionally, Nadal had the misfortune of missing a penalty at Wembley Stadium against England, in a Euro 1996 shootout loss. After appearing in four complete matches at the 2002 World Cup, at almost 36, he retired from the international scene.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 16 November 1994 Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain  Denmark 1–0 3–0 Euro 1996 qualifying
2. 30 November 1994 La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain  Finland 1–0 2–0 Friendly
3. 5 September 2001 Rheinpark, Vaduz, Liechtenstein  Liechtenstein 0–2 0–2 2002 World Cup qualification

Honors

Barcelona
Mallorca

Personal

Nadal is the uncle of number 1-ranked tennis player Rafael Nadal, whilst his brother, Toni, is Rafael's coach.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The beauty of the beast; The Guardian, 11 September 2001
  2. ↑ Miguel Ángel Nadal anuncia su retirada del fútbol, tras estar 18 años en activo (Miguel Ángel Nadal announces retirement, after 18 professional years) (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Rafael Nadal – ESPN 2008 Summer Olympics profile

External links

RCD Mallorca – managers
Entourage
Career
Milestones
Notable matches
Exhibition matches
Seasons
Australian Open titles
French Open titles
Wimbledon titles
US Open titles
Olympics Gold
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