Esteban Félix Granero Molina is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Marbella FC. Known as El Pirata, he can play as a central or an attacking midfielder, his best attributes being passing, technique and shooting. He emerged through Real Madrid's youth academy, but made a name for himself in La Liga with Getafe, following which he returned to his previous team, winning two major titles but being sparingly played over the course of three seasons. Granero represented Spain at under-21 level, appearing in the 2009 European Championship.
Granero made the definitive jump to Castilla in 2006–07's Segunda División, and slowly earned the confidence of coach Míchel until finally becoming an undisputed starter. He would eventually fail to make the transition into the first team, as did fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red, Javi García and Adrián González and, on 31 August, the last day of the transfer window, he moved to Getafe CF on a one-year loan; de la Red also joined Getafe, albeit in a different deal. After the season's end, in which both he and de la Red were instrumental in the team's campaign that included runs to the quarter-finals in the UEFA Cup and the final of the Copa del Rey, Granero returned to Real Madrid. However, on 13 July 2008, he joined Getafe permanently, with Real keeping a re-buy option on the player.
Return to Real
On 21 July 2009, Real Madrid exercised their buyback option in a reported €4 million deal, and Granero scored three goals during the pre-season. His first official one came in his first start, the opener in a 3–0 La Liga away success against RCD Espanyol on 12 September 2009. In his first season, where the Merengues eventually came out empty in silverware, he alternated the bench with starts, with irregular performances. In the 2010–11 season, after the club purchased two players in similar positions, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, Granero was limited mainly to substitute appearances. On 16 January 2011 he came from the bench to score against UD Almería, in a 1–1 away draw against the bottom-placed team. Granero's situation became worse in the 2011–12 season, with even Fábio Coentrão – another compatriot of manager José Mourinho who was signed in the off-season, originally as a left fullback – being preferred over him as central midfielder.
On 30 August 2012, Granero signed a four-year contract with English club Queens Park Rangers after transferring for a reported fee of £9 million, and was handed the number 14 shirt. He made his Premier League debut two days later, starting in a 1–3 away loss against defending champions Manchester City. Granero scored his first goal for QPR on 6 October 2012, but in a 2–3 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
On 15 August 2013, after his team's relegation, Granero was loaned to Real Sociedad in a season-long move. On 17 September, after entering the pitch in the 81st minute of an eventual 0–2 home loss against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the campaign's UEFA Champions League, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, being sidelined for approximately six months. Following his loan at the club, Granero signed a long-term deal with Real Sociedad on 28 July 2014, for an undisclosed fee. He played his first game in his second spell on 24 August, starting in a 0–1 away loss to SD Eibar.
Espanyol
On 7 July 2017, Granero signed a three-year contract with Espanyol. He appeared in 25 matches in his first season, adding 28 the following. Granero scored his first league goal for the Catalans on 18 February 2018, in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF. On 30 January 2020, he left the RCDE Stadium by mutual consent.
Marbella
The same day he became a free agent, Granero joined Marbella FC until June 2021. He made his Segunda División B debut on 2 February 2020 at the age of 32 years and 7 months, playing 18 minutes in the 0–0 draw away to Mérida AD.
