Cifu (footballer, born 1990) explained

Cifu
Fullname:Miguel Ángel Garrido Cifuentes
Birth Date:5 October 1990
Birth Place:Zújar, Spain
Height:1.74 m
Position:Right-winger, right-back
Currentclub:Sabah
Clubnumber:9
Youthclubs1:Independiente de Elche
Youthclubs2:Alicante
Youthclubs3:Elche
Years1:2009–2011
Clubs1:Torrellano Illice
Caps1:52
Goals1:3
Years2:2011–2012
Clubs2:Orihuela
Caps2:31
Goals2:1
Years3:2012–2015
Clubs3:Elche Ilicitano
Caps3:33
Goals3:1
Years4:2014–2015
Clubs4:Girona (loan)
Caps4:41
Goals4:1
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:Elche
Caps5:17
Goals5:0
Years6:2016
Clubs6:Málaga (loan)
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2016–2020
Clubs7:Málaga
Caps7:61
Goals7:4
Years8:2016–2017
Clubs8:Girona (loan)
Caps8:24
Goals8:0
Years9:2018
Clubs9:Albacete (loan)
Caps9:9
Goals9:0
Years10:2020–2021
Clubs10:Elche
Caps10:11
Goals10:0
Years11:2021–2022
Clubs11:Ibiza
Caps11:28
Goals11:1
Years12:2023
Clubs12:Kelantan
Caps12:13
Goals12:4
Years13:2023–
Clubs13:Sabah
Caps13:6
Goals13:2
Club-Update:17 December 2023

Miguel Ángel Garrido Cifuentes (born 5 October 1990), commonly known as Cifu, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-winger and also right-back for Malaysia Football League club Sabah.

Football career

Born in Zújar, Granada, Andalusia,[1] Cifu graduated from Elche CF's youth setup, and made his senior debut for Torrellano Illice CF (the club's farm team) in Tercera División, in 2009. On 11 August 2011 he joined Orihuela CF in Segunda División B,[2] appearing regularly for the side.

In July 2012 Cifu returned to Elche, being assigned to the reserves in the fourth level.[3] He appeared in 38 matches during his first campaign, scoring once and achieving promotion.

On 17 July 2014 Cifu was loaned to Segunda División's Girona FC, in a season-long deal.[4] On 24 August he made his debut in the competition, starting in a 1–0 home win against Racing de Santander.[5]

Cifu scored his first professional goal on 9 May 2015, netting the last in a 4–2 away win against FC Barcelona B.[6] After his loan expired, he was subsequently assigned to the Valencians' main squad.

On 26 January 2016, as his contract was due to expire in the summer, Cifu was loaned to La Liga side Málaga CF,[7] with a three-year permanent deal being effective at the expiration of the loan.[8] On 15 July, after making no appearances for the Andalusians, he returned to his previous club Girona again in a temporary deal.[9]

On 30 January 2018, Cifu was loaned to Albacete Balompié still in the second division, for six months.[10] Upon returning, he became a regular starter for the Albicelestes, now also in division two.

On 22 September 2020, Cifu terminated his contract with Málaga,[11] and returned to his former side Elche, now in the top tier, on a two-year contract just hours later.[12]

On 20 July 2021, Cifu left Elche and signed a one-year deal with second division newcomers UD Ibiza.[13]

Personal life

Cifu is part of the Hipster subculture, distinguishing himself with a thick beard and tattoos.[1]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Elche2010–11Segunda División000000
2012–13Segunda División000000
2015–16Segunda División17010180
Total1701000180
Orihuela(loan)2011–12Segunda División B3011020331
Girona (loan)2014–15Segunda División4010010411
Málaga (loan)2015–16La Liga000000
Málaga2017–18La Liga202040
2018–19Segunda División2420010252
2019–20Segunda División34210352
Total6043010644
Girona (loan)2016–17Segunda División24010250
Albacete (loan)2017–18Segunda División900090
Elche2020–21La Liga11030140
Ibiza2021–22Segunda División28100281
Kelantan2023Malaysia Super League13420154
Sabah2023Malaysia Super League10000010
Career total233111104024811

Notes and References

  1. http://www.diarioinformacion.com/elche-cf/2015/10/08/cifu-hipster-elche/1682921.html Cifu, el «hipster» del Elche (Cifu, Elche's "hipster")
  2. http://www.diarioinformacion.com/deportes/2011/08/11/orihuela-cierra-fichaje-extremo-miguel-angel-garrido/1157363.html El Orihuela cierra el fichaje del extremo Miguel Ángel Garrido (Orihuela completes the signing of winger Miguel Ángel Garrido)
  3. http://www.elchediario.com/display.aspx?id=5723 Miguel Ángel afirma que es nuevo jugador del Ilicitano (Miguel Ángel states that he is a player of Ilicitano)
  4. http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140717/futbol/liga-segunda-division/el-girona-obtiene-la-cesion-de-miguel-angel-garrido_54411987348.html El Girona obtiene la cesión de Miguel Ángel Garrido (Girona gets the loan of Miguel Ángel Garrido)
  5. http://www.marca.com/2014/08/25/futbol/2adivision/1408917747.html Un gol de Felipe Sanchón le basta al Girona (A goal from Felipe Sanchón is enough for Girona)
  6. http://www.marca.com/2015/05/09/futbol/2adivision/1431188579.html El Girona mantiene el pulso por Primera (Girona keeps the momentum for Primera)
  7. http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20160126/301686189508/cifu-pasa-el-examen-medico-y-jugara-cedido-en-el-malaga-procedente-del-elche.html Cifu pasa el examen médico y jugará cedido en el Málaga procedente del Elche (Cifu passes medical and will play on loan at Málaga from Elche)
  8. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2016/01/24/primera/1453633469_166976.html El Málaga ficha a Cifu, lateral derecho del Elche, hasta 2019 (Málaga signs Cifu, Elche's right back, until 2019)
  9. http://www.gironafc.cat/noticia/cifu-alta-velocitat-al-carril-dret Cifu, alta velocitat al carril dret (Cifu, high speed to the right flank)
  10. https://www.malagacf.com/en/news/cifu-is-loaned-out-to-albacete-balompie Cifu is loaned out to Albacete Balompié
  11. Web site: Cifuentes deja de pertenecer al Málaga CF. Cifuentes leaves Málaga CF. Málaga CF. es. 22 September 2020. 22 September 2020.
  12. Web site: Miguel Ángel Cifuentes, sexto fichaje del Elche CF. Miguel Ángel Cifuentes, sixth signing of Elche CF. Elche CF. es. 22 September 2020. 22 September 2020.
  13. Web site: Cifu nuevo jugador del Ibiza. Cifu new player of Ibiza. UD Ibiza. es. 20 July 2021. 31 July 2021.