Míchel

Míchel was born on March 23, 1963, in Madrid, Spain. The son of a footballer who was forced to retire after a car accident, he joined Real Madrid at the age of 12. Quickly establishing himself as one of the club's most promising youngsters, he rose through the ranks and reached Castilla, where he played from the 1981/82 season at the age of 18.

Highly technical, he scored his first goal for Real Madrid in a match against CD Castellon during the 1981/82 season. He then returned to play for Castilla until finally being permanently included in the first team in 1984.

Blessed with an incredible ability to deliver brilliant crosses, he was quickly recognized as one of the best Spanish players. Playing as a right midfielder or right winger, he played almost everywhere throughout his career: winger, central midfielder, defensive midfielder, and even sweeper in one match!

During the 1984/85 season, he notably played in five different positions! Having finished as Real Madrid's top assist provider eight times, he was one of his club's key figures during the 1980s and 1990s. He was part of the famous golden generation known as the "Quinta del Buitre," along with other legendary players such as Emilio Butragueño, Manuel Sanchís, Miguel Pardeza, and Rafael Martín Vázquez.

Dribbling in crosses from his right flank, he provided an impressive number of assists for players such as Hugo Sánchez. A regular starter at Real Madrid, he stayed there until 1996, a total of 15 years, including his time at Castilla.

During his time at the club, he won numerous trophies: two UEFA Cups, six La Liga titles, two Copa Del Rey titles, four Spanish Super Cups, one Spanish League Cup, and one Copa Iberoamericana. He was named the best Spanish player in 1986 after a fantastic season in which he shone at the World Cup. During this tournament, he delivered consistent and high-level performances, notably against Brazil.

The following year, Míchel's momentum began, becoming one of the most decisive players in the world, with an exceptional 1986/87 season, with 58 matches, six goals, and 20 assists. He finished fourth in the 1987 Ballon d'Or. He then finished 13th in the following edition after an even more impressive season: 50 matches, 19 goals, and 25 assists.

Still a regular with Real Madrid, he would come to tarnish his career in 1991 when he repeatedly "distracted" Carlos Valderrama during a match against Real Valladolid by touching his private parts. Caught red-handed by the cameras, he received a UEFA sanction of 500,000 pesetas (5,900 euros).

His career with the Spanish national team is also very interesting because, as mentioned, he was a success at the 1986 World Cup. He then played at Euro 1988, where, at the age of 25, he was at the top of his game. However, he struggled somewhat in his competition, like Spain.

He reached his peak in 1990 with the Spanish national team. At the World Cup that same year, he produced one of the best performances by a Spanish player in the competition. After an average match against Uruguay, the player put on a masterclass against South Korea in the following match, scoring a hat-trick, in addition to exceptional statistics: 61 touches of the ball, 76% pass completion, 2 key passes, 7 duels won, 5 fouls won, and 1 interception.

Against Belgium, he once again had a very good performance: 1 goal, 1 assist, 66 touches, 76% pass completion, 3 key passes, 3 duels won, 2 fouls won, and 2 interceptions. This was followed by the defeat against Yugoslavia after another good individual performance.

After the arrival of a new coach in 1992, the player would never again play for the Spanish national team. He was only 29 years old at the time. In total, he had played 66 matches for his country and scored 21 goals, more than impressive statistics for a player who played as a right midfielder or central midfielder for his country. In 1996, at the age of 33, he decided to leave Real Madrid and Europe to quietly end his career in Mexico with a final season at Atletico Celaya.

- Voted Spanish Player of the Year in 1986

- Voted 3rd Best Player at the World Cup in 1990

- Champions League Top Scorer in 1988 (4 goals) (Real Madrid)

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