Miguel de las Cuevas

Miguel de las Cuevas

De las Cuevas with Atlético Madrid in 2008
Personal information
Full nameMiguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá
Date of birth19 June 1986
Place of birthAlicante, Spain
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Spezia
Number7
Youth career
Agustinos
1993–2000Kelme
2000–2002Valencia
2002–2003Hércules
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2004Hércules B
2003–2006Hércules68(3)
2006–2009Atlético Madrid24(0)
2009–2013Sporting Gijón121(18)
2013→ Osasuna (loan)16(1)
2013–2015Osasuna44(4)
2015–Spezia8(1)
National team
2005Spain U193(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 April 2015.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is De las Cuevas and the second or maternal family name is Barberá.

Miguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá (born 19 June 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Italian club Spezia Calcio. A versatile midfield element, he can play both in the wings and behind the forwards, but usually occupies the attacking midfielder position.

Club career

Born in Alicante, Valencian Community, de las Cuevas started his professional career with hometown's Hércules CF, in the third division. In the 2004–05 season, he was instrumental as the side achieved promotion to the second level after a six-year-absence.

For the 2006–07 campaign, de las Cuevas signed with Atlético Madrid. During preseason, on 13 August, in the Teresa Herrera Trophy match against Club Nacional de Football, he suffered a serious ankle injury that kept him out of action for more than one year.[1]

On 12 December 2007 de las Cuevas finally made his debut for the Colchoneros, playing the second half in a Copa del Rey away game against Granada 74 CF, in the round-of-32.[2] He appeared in 13 La Liga contests with the club in his first season after returning from injury, 12 as a substitute.

On 25 June 2009, after producing slightly the same numbers with Atlético, de las Cuevas moved to fellow top level outfit Sporting de Gijón on a four-year deal – however, Atlético retained an option to rebuy in the first three.[3] He had a breakthrough season in 2009–10, ranking second in goals in the team; highlights included braces against RCD Mallorca (4–1[4]), Athletic Bilbao (2–1, away[5]) and one against former side Atlético (1–1), the goal that certified Sporting's permanence in the top flight for a further year, on 8 May 2010.[6]

Still under manager Manuel Preciado, de las Cuevas was again an undisputed starter for Gijón in the 2010–11 season. On 2 April 2011 he scored the only goal of the match in a win against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, ending José Mourinho's record of nine years and 150 matches unbeaten at home;[7] he only missed one league match and added six goals, in another final escape from relegation.[8]

Club statistics

As of 16 May 2010[9]
Season Club Competition Apps Goals Assists
2006/07Atlético MadridSpain La Liga000
2007/08Atlético MadridSpain La Liga1300
2008/09Atlético MadridSpain La Liga1101
2009/10Sporting GijónSpain La Liga3783
Total 61 8 4

References

  1. ↑ Atlético lose new recruits; UEFA.com, 14 August 2006
  2. ↑ 1–2. Atlético resolvió el partido en dos minutos (1–2. Atlético solved it in two minutes); Soitu, 12 December 2007 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ El Sporting cierra el fichaje de Miguel de las Cuevas (Sporting closes Miguel de las Cuevas deal); Marca, 25 June 2009 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Miguel at the double in Sporting win; ESPN Soccernet, 4 October 2009
  5. ↑ Sporting Gijon continue fine form; ESPN Soccernet, 18 October 2009
  6. ↑ Gijon secure top-flight status; ESPN Soccernet, 8 May 2010
  7. ↑ Mourinho home record ended; ESPN Soccernet, 2 April 2011
  8. ↑ De las Cuevas: "El Sporting me lo da todo para poder triunfar aquí" (De las Cuevas: "Sporting provides everything so i can make it here"); Marca, 3 June 2011 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ "De las Cuevas". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 February 2014.

External links