Víctor Muñoz

For other people named Víctor Muñoz, see Víctor Muñoz (disambiguation).
Víctor Muñoz
Personal information
Full name Víctor Muñoz Manrique
Date of birth (1957-03-15) 15 March 1957
Place of birth Zaragoza, Spain
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1976–1981 Zaragoza 127 (12)
1981–1988 Barcelona 224 (14)
1988–1990 Sampdoria 48 (2)
1990 Zaragoza 4 (0)
1991 St. Mirren 18 (1)
National team
1979–1980 Spain U23 7 (2)
1979–1983 Spain amateur 11 (1)
1980–1981 Spain B 3 (0)
1981–1988 Spain 60 (3)
Teams managed
1995–1997 Mallorca
1997–1998 Logroñés
1998–2000 Lleida
2000–2003 Villarreal
2004–2006 Zaragoza
2006–2007 Panathinaikos
2007–2008 Recreativo
2008–2009 Getafe
2010–2011 Terek Grozny
2011–2012 Neuchâtel Xamax
2012–2013 Sion
2014 Zaragoza

* 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 Muñoz and the second or maternal family name is Manrique.

Víctor Muñoz Manrique (born 15 March 1957), known simply as Víctor in his playing days, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current manager.

An all-around midfield unit, he was best known for his great physical strength that helped him tire his opponents in the early stages of the match. He spent most of his professional career with Barcelona, winning a total of eight major titles and amassing La Liga totals of 332 games and 25 goals, also represented in the competition Zaragoza.[1]

A Spanish international during the 80's, Víctor represented the country in one World Cup and two European Championships.

Club career

Víctor was born in Zaragoza, Aragon. After starting off with hometown's Real Zaragoza and being relegated in his first professional season, he was purchased by La Liga powerhouse FC Barcelona, being a very important element for the Catalans during his seven-year stay; on 4 June 1983, he scored his team's first in a 2–1 win against Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.[2]

Víctor was also one of the first Spaniards to ever play in Serie A, with two seasons with U.C. Sampdoria. After a quick return to Zaragoza Víctor (also known by his first name during his playing days) finished his career at 34, teaming up with former Barça teammate Steve Archibald at St. Mirren.

Since the mid-1990s Muñoz started working as a manager, and successively coached RCD Mallorca, CD Logroñés, UE Lleida, Villarreal CF and Zaragoza,[3] winning the 2004 domestic cup with the latter.[4] On 8 October 2006 he signed a two-year contract with Greece's Panathinaikos FC, becoming the 18th coach in ten years for The Greens;[5] however, he returned to Spain in June 2007 to take over at Recreativo de Huelva,[6] from where he was sacked the following February.[7]

For the 2008–09 campaign Muñoz was appointed coach at Getafe CF, on 18 June 2008. Following a poor string of results he was sacked in April of the following year, making way to former Real Madrid player Míchel.

In late December 2010, after more than one year out of football, Muñoz was appointed head coach at Russian Premier League side FC Terek Grozny. He left his post after less than one month, being replaced by Ruud Gullit.

Muñoz returned to active in early September 2011, when he became Neuchâtel Xamax's third coach of the season, replacing countryman Joaquín Caparrós at the helm of the Swiss club.[8] He continued his career in the country, with a brief stint at FC Sion from December 2012 until February of the following year.[9]

International career

Muñoz was a regular player for Spain during the vast majority of the '80s, receiving his first opportunity on 25 March 1981 in a 2–1 friendly win with England and going on to gain a further 59 caps, with three goals.[10]

He played for the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, and at UEFA Euro 1984 (in a final runner-up position, to hosts France) and 1988, retiring from international duty immediately after that group stage exit.

International goals

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 24 February 1982 Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain  Scotland 1–0 3–0 Friendly
2. 17 November 1982 Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland  Republic of Ireland 1–3 3–3 Euro 1984 qualifying
3. 24 September 1986 El Molinón, Gijón, Spain  Greece 3–0 3–1 Friendly

Honours

Player

Barcelona
Sampdoria

Manager

Zaragoza

References

  1. ↑ Jonathan Stevenson and Chris Bevan (22 April 2008). "When Bryan Robson tamed Barca". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "2–1: ¡Que final!" [2–1: What a final!] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 5 June 1983. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Zaragoza get more of Muñoz; UEFA.com, 15 June 2005
  4. ↑ Beckham misses out on Cup; BBC Sport, 17 March 2004
  5. ↑ Muñoz to lead Panathinaikos bid; UEFA.com, 10 October 2006
  6. ↑ Muño steps in at Recreativo; UEFA.com, 4 July 2007
  7. ↑ Muñoz makes way at lowly Recre; UEFA.com, 4 February 2008
  8. ↑ Víctor Muñoz dirigirá al Neuchatel de Suiza (Víctor Muñoz to coach Switzerland's Neuchatel); El Periódico Mediterráneo, 5 September 2011 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ Gennaro Gattuso named player-coach at FC Sion in Switzerland; The Guardian, 25 February 2013
  10. ↑ Víctor Muñoz Manrique – International Matches; at RSSSF

External links

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