Míchel (footballer, born 1963)


José Miguel González Martín del Campo, known as Míchel, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right midfielder, and a manager.
He was most noted for his stellar crossing ability, also contributing with a fair share of goals. During his career he represented mainly Real Madrid – over a decade – achieving great team and individual success.
Míchel earned nearly 70 caps for Spain from 1985 to 1992, and appeared for the nation in two World Cups and one European Championship. He started working as a manager in 2005, notably leading Olympiacos to two Superleague Greece accolades.

Playing career

Club

The son of a footballer who had to retire from the game at 27 after a road accident, Míchel was born in Madrid and joined Real Madrid at the age of 13, his technique and physicality on the pitch quickly standing out. He moved quickly through the ranks to the first team, appearing – and scoring – once in the 1981–82 season, in a 2–1 away win against CD Castellón on 11 April 1982.
A member of the renowned La Quinta del Buitre, which also featured Emilio Butragueño, Miguel Pardeza, Rafael Martín Vázquez and Manolo Sanchís, Míchel never played less than 31 La Liga matches from 1985 to 1994. After helping Castilla CF to the second division title in 1984, he was instrumental in the capital club's conquests, which included six leagues and two consecutive UEFA Cups; he opened the score in the 1985 final of the latter competition, against Videoton FC.
In 1989, Míchel announced he would leave Real Madrid after having signed with an Italian side, but this never came to pass and he ended up staying until 1996. In his penultimate season, he suffered a severe knee injury which rendered him unavailable for several months, but still bounced back for a final solid year, after which he left for Atlético Celaya in Mexico – where Butragueño was also playing – shortly after the arrival at Madrid of president Lorenzo Sanz. He retired from football in 1997.
Míchel's career was not without incident: in 1988, he was hit by a bottle while on the pitch and, three years later, he was sanctioned by UEFA for using an unorthodox method of disrupting the concentration of Carlos Valderrama, in a game against Real Valladolid. The presiding judge in the case noted that "manipulating in public that of your neighbour which is a gift given exclusively to males by nature" violated a federation rule protecting a player's dignity.

International

Míchel made his debut for the Spain national team on 20 November 1985 against Austria, going on to appear in a further 65 internationals and score 21 goals. He played in the 1986 and the 1990 FIFA World Cups, netting a hat-trick against South Korea in Spain's second fixture during the latter tournament and also a penalty against Belgium in the country's final group match.
Shortly after Javier Clemente's arrival as national boss, Míchel was deemed surplus to requirements and never called again, although only 29. All national categories comprised, he received exactly 100 caps.

Coaching career

In the summer of 2005, after working as a sports commentator with RTVE after his retirement and also writing articles for Madrid's Marca, Míchel was appointed manager of Rayo Vallecano. The following year he returned to his alma mater as director of Real Madrid's sports city, the entire youth system, and manager duties at Real Madrid Castilla, where he coached one of his sons, Adrián; under his management the side dropped down a level into the third and he was sacked, also leaving his post in the youth sides due to disagreements with president Ramón Calderón.
On 27 April 2009, Míchel was appointed as coach of top flight strugglers Getafe CF until the end of the season. He replaced former FC Barcelona midfielder Víctor Muñoz, and also managed Adrián, helping the club avoid relegation in the last matchday, and renewing his contract for two more years in the following week; he was relieved of his duties at the end of 2010–11, with the team again managing to stay afloat after finishing 16th, just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Míchel joined Sevilla FC on 6 February 2012, replacing fired Marcelino García Toral and signing until the end of the season. On 14 January of the following year, after a 0–2 away loss to Valencia CF that left the Andalusians in 12th place, he was relieved of his duties.
Míchel moved to Olympiacos F.C. in the Superleague Greece on 1 February 2013, penning a contract until June 2015. In his first 18 months in charge, he won two national championships and the 2013 Greek Cup; he was fired on 6 January 2015, whilst the side was still competing in the Europa League and only a point behind PAOK FC in the domestic campaign.
On 19 August 2015, Míchel succeeded Marcelo Bielsa at the helm of Olympique de Marseille. He was sacked the following 19 April for his behaviour, with the team ranking 15th in Ligue 1.
Míchel became Málaga CF's third manager of the season on 7 March 2017, following Juande Ramos and Marcelo Romero. He signed until 30 June 2018 but, on 13 January of that year, with his team in last position, he was relieved of his duties.
On 20 May 2019, Míchel was appointed at Club Universidad Nacional of the Mexican Liga MX. He resigned from office on 23 July 2020, due to personal and family issues.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 December 1985Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain1–02–0Friendly
2.12 November 1986Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain1–01–0Euro 1988 qualifying
3.14 October 1987Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain1–0 2–0Euro 1988 qualifying
4.18 November 1987Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain3–0 5–0Euro 1988 qualifying
5.11 June 1988Niedersachsenstadion, Hanover, Germany0–12–3UEFA Euro 1988
6.14 September 1988Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo, Spain1–01–2Friendly
7.21 December 1988Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain3–0 4–01990 World Cup qualification
8.22 January 1989Ta' Qali, Attard, Malta0–1 0–21990 World Cup qualification
9.23 March 1989Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain1–04–01990 World Cup qualification
10.23 March 1989Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain2–0 4–01990 World Cup qualification
11.20 September 1989Riazor, A Coruña, Spain1–01–0Friendly
12.11 November 1989Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary0–22–21990 World Cup qualification
13.13 December 1989Heliodoro Rodríguez, Tenerife, Spain1–0 2–1Friendly
14.17 June 1990Friuli, Udine, Italy1–03–11990 FIFA World Cup
15.17 June 1990Friuli, Udine, Italy2–13–11990 FIFA World Cup
16.17 June 1990Friuli, Udine, Italy3–13–11990 FIFA World Cup
17.21 June 1990Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona, Italy0–1 1–21990 FIFA World Cup
18.12 September 1990El Molinón, Gijón, Spain3–03–0Friendly
19.13 November 1991Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain2–1 2–1Euro 1992 qualifying
20.22 April 1992Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain1–03–01994 World Cup qualification
21.22 April 1992Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain2–0 3–01994 World Cup qualification

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Real Madrid
Olympiacos