Iñaki Muñoz Explained

Iñaki Muñoz
Fullname:Iñaki Muñoz Oroz
Birth Date:2 July 1978
Birth Place:Pamplona, Spain
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Osasuna
Years1:1997–2001
Years2:2000–2001
Years3:2000–2007
Years4:2007–2010
Years5:2010–2011
Years6:2011–2012
Years7:2013
Clubs2:Toledo (loan)
Clubs5:Cartagena
Clubs6:Salamanca
Clubs7:Izarra
Caps1:103
Caps2:32
Caps3:132
Caps4:19
Caps5:24
Caps6:20
Caps7:10
Totalcaps:340
Goals1:15
Goals2:3
Goals3:11
Goals4:0
Goals5:2
Goals6:2
Goals7:0
Totalgoals:33
Nationalyears1:1996
Nationalyears2:2003–2005
Nationalyears3:2006–2007
Nationalteam1:Spain U18
Nationalteam2:Navarre
Nationalteam3:Basque Country
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalgoals3:0

Iñaki Muñoz Oroz (born 2 July 1978) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.

He amassed La Liga totals of 150 matches and 11 goals over nine seasons, representing in the competition Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Osasuna

Muñoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre. Except for a season-long loan to CD Toledo in the Segunda División B he played ten senior seasons with hometown club CA Osasuna, the first and the second teams combined. He made his La Liga debut with the former on 23 December 2001, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 home loss against Athletic Bilbao.[1]

Muñoz went on to become an important first-team member, appearing in 30 games during 2005–06 as they finished fourth in the league and qualified for the UEFA Champions League while scoring five goals in as many wins, notably the winners at Deportivo de La Coruña and Atlético Madrid.[2] [3] In the previous campaign's Copa del Rey, he netted five times in eight matches to help Osasuna reach the final of the competition, notably once in a 3–1 quarter-final home victory over Sevilla FC (4–3 aggregate).[4] [5]

Athletic Bilbao

Muñoz switched west for 2007–08, moving to Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao on a three-year contract.[6] He appeared sparingly in his first season, and even less in the second and third – his 2009–10 output consisted of 30 minutes against Deportivo in the last matchday.[7] [8]

Muñoz scored his only competitive goal for the side on 31 January 2008, in a 3–3 home draw with Racing de Santander in the Spanish Cup quarter-finals.[9]

Later years

In summer 2010, aged 32, free agent Muñoz signed with FC Cartagena of the Segunda División.[10] He retired three years later, after lower-league spells at UD Salamanca and CD Izarra.[11]

International career

Muñoz represented both the Basque[12] [13] [14] and Navarrese autonomous teams,[15] [16] [17] earning six caps in total.

Notes and References

  1. https://elpais.com/diario/2001/12/24/deportes/1009148406_850215.html El Athletic, en estado de gracia, gana a un Osasuna sin pegada (Athletic, in a state of grace, beat punchless Osasuna)
  2. http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/188366/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739 Deportivo La Coruña 0–1 Osasuna
  3. http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/188417/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739 Atlético Madrid 0–1 Osasuna
  4. http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2005/06/11/mas_futbol/1118471221_850215.html Iñaki Muñoz es el máximo goleador de esta Copa (Iñaki Muñoz is this Cup's top scorer)
  5. https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup05.html Spain Cup Tournaments 2004/05
  6. http://cadenaser.com/ser/2007/07/17/deportes/1184628499_850215.html Iñaki Muñoz, presentado como nuevo jugador del Athletic de Bilbao (Iñaki Muñoz, presented as a new Athletic de Bilbao player)
  7. http://www.marca.com/2009/02/11/futbol/equipos/athletic/1234374428.html Iñaki Muñoz: "Soy el único que no ha tenido una oportunidad" (Iñaki Muñoz: "I am the only one who has not received an opportunity")
  8. http://www.navarrasport.com/noticias/inaki-munoz-se-siente-maltratado-en-el-athletic Iñaki Muñoz se siente maltratado en el Athletic (Iñaki Muñoz feels mistreated at Athletic)
  9. http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-copa-cronica-athletic-club-racing-santander-20080131223541.html Crónica del Athletic Club – Racing de Santander, 3–3 (Athletic Club – Racing de Santander match report, 3–3)
  10. http://www.canalathletic.com/noticias/2010-07-27/inaki-munoz-ficha-temporada-20100727.html Iñaki Muñoz ficha una temporada por el Cartagena (Iñaki Muñoz signs with Cartagena for one season)
  11. http://www.uds1923.com/2013/01/inaki-munoz-firma-por-el-izarra.html Iñaki Muñoz firma por el Izarra (Iñaki Muñoz signs for Izarra)
  12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5000308.stm Basque XI 0–1 Wales
  13. http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2006/10/08/futbol/1160334175.html Catalunya y Euskadi igualan en una vistosa demostración (Catalonia and Basque Country draw in flashy display)
  14. https://www.elcorreo.com/alava/20070621/deportes/athletic/ECD-venezuela-euskadi_200706210828.html La selección de Euskadi obtiene una vibrante victoria frente a Venezuela (Basque Country national team get exciting win against Venezuela)
  15. https://as.com/futbol/2003/12/28/mas_futbol/1072566008_850215.html Navarra, sin rival en su estreno como selección (Navarre, no opposition in their debut as national team)
  16. https://as.com/futbol/2004/12/30/mas_futbol/1104391642_850215.html Un penalti da el triunfo a Navarra ante Marruecos (Penalty gives Navarre win against Morocco)
  17. https://as.com/futbol/2005/12/26/mas_futbol/1135551611_850215.html Navarra vence con gol de Muñoz y perdona la goleada (Navarra win with goal from Muñoz and forgive routing)