Saúl Ñíguez
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Saúl Ñíguez Esclápez | ||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Elche, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Rayo Vallecano (loan from Atlético Madrid) | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Real Madrid | ||
| 2008–2010 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2013 | Atlético B | 70 | (8) |
| 2012– | Atlético Madrid | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | → Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 19 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Spain U16 | 4 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Spain U17 | 9 | (2) |
| 2012 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012– | Spain U19 | 11 | (0) |
| 2013 | Spain U20 | 8 | (0) |
| 2013– | Spain U21 | 6 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 January 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Saúl Ñíguez Esclápez (born 21 November 1994), simply known as Saúl, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano on loan from Atlético Madrid, as a central or defensive midfielder.
Football career
Born in Elche, Alicante, Valencian Community, Saúl moved to Atlético Madrid in 2008 at not yet 14, after starting his formation with neighbouring Real Madrid. He made his senior debuts in the 2010–11 season, appearing with the Colchoneros' reserves in the third division, and his first goal came in a 3–1 away win against Extremadura UD on 10 April 2011,[1] his only of the campaign in an eventual midtable finish.
In the summer of 2011, Saúl joined the Atlético main squad for pre-season training. On 10 July, he netted twice in a 19–1 friendly win with CD Arcángel.[2]
On 8 March 2012, at the age of just 17 years and 108 days, Saúl made his official debut with Atleti's first team, playing the last six minutes in a UEFA Europa League game against Beşiktaş JK (3–1 home win, 6–1 on aggregate).[3] His second appearance came on 20 September, again as a substitute and in the Europa League, against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC;[4] three days later he scored both goals for Atlético B, in a 2–1 away derby win over Real Madrid C.[5]
Saúl made his La Liga debut on 21 April 2013, playing two minutes in a 1–0 success at Sevilla FC after replacing fellow youth graduate Koke.[6] Again from the bench, he appeared in his second league match with the main squad on 4 May, against Deportivo de La Coruña (0–0).[7]
On 21 July 2013 Saúl signed with Rayo Vallecano, in a season-long loan deal.[8]
Honours
Club
Country
- Spain U19
Personal
Saúl comes from a football family: his father, José Antonio, played several years with Elche CF – including the 1984–85 season in the top division – as a striker.
Both his older brothers, Jony and Aarón, are midfielders, having been brought up at Valencia CF.[9]
References
- ↑ "Atlético B win in Extremadura". Atlético Fans. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ↑ "Twenty goal spectacle in first friendly". Atlético Fans. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ↑ "Saúl Ñíguez debuta con el Atlético" (in Spanish). Marca. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ↑ Hapoel Tel Aviv 0–3 Atletico Madrid: Diego Simeone's men begin defence of title with an easy victory over Israeli side; Goal.com, 20 September 2012
- ↑ Saúl firma la primera victoria de un gran Atlético de Madrid B ante el Real Madrid C (1–2) (Saúl spearheads first win of great Atlético de Madrid B against Real Madrid C (1–2)); Atlético's official website, 23 September 2012 (Spanish)
- ↑ "Falcao nets again". ESPN FC. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "Draw enough for Rojiblancos". ESPN FC. 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "Saúl se marcha cedido al Rayo" [Saúl goes on loan to Rayo] (in Spanish). Marca. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
- ↑ "Los Ñiguez, familia de futbolistas" [The Ñiguezes, footballing family] (in Spanish). Colgados por el Fútbol. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- Futbolme profile (Spanish)
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