Manu Fernández Explained

Manu
Fullname:Manuel Fernández Muñiz
Birth Date:9 May 1986
Birth Place:Gijón, Spain
Height:1.850NaN0
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Sporting Gijón
Years1:2004–2006
Caps1:26
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2007
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2007–2009
Caps3:44
Goals3:0
Years4:2009–2011
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Years5:2011–2012
Caps5:35
Goals5:0
Years6:2012–2014
Caps6:43
Goals6:0
Years7:2014–2015
Caps7:29
Goals7:0
Years8:2015–2016
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Years9:2016–2017
Caps9:16
Goals9:0
Years10:2017
Caps10:7
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:219
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2002
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2002
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2004
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2005
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0

Manuel Fernández Muñiz (born 9 May 1986), commonly known as Manu, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Gijón, Asturias, and a product of Mareo, Sporting de Gijón's youth academy, Manu made his professional debut during the 2005–06 season, with the club in the Segunda División. In 2007 he joined Deportivo de La Coruña, spending the better part of his first two years with the reserves.

In the 2009–10 campaign, after Gustavo Munúa's departure to Málaga CF, Manu was promoted to Dani Aranzubia's backup. On 23 March 2010, after the latter was sent off against precisely Sporting Gijón (Depor eventually finished with nine players) at the 10-minute mark, he made his La Liga debut, in a 2–1 away loss.[1]

Due to injury to Aranzubia, Manu started 2010–11's first six games then returned to the bench,[2] appearing in the Copa del Rey as Deportivo were eventually relegated after 20 years. In July he signed with another team in the second division, Recreativo de Huelva,[3] and continued competing at that level the following years, in representation of AD Alcorcón[4] and Deportivo Alavés.[5]

Manu returned to the Estadio Riazor for the 2015–16 season, arriving following injury to habitual starter Fabri.[6] Again, he played second-fiddle, now to Germán Lux.[7]

In the summer of 2016, Manu signed with Iranian club Machine Sazi FC, newly promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, on a one-year contract.[8] He returned to Spain halfway through the campaign, joining Marbella FC from Segunda División B.[9]

Honours

Spain U19

2004

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Deportivo's Euro hopes dented. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026121231/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=275854&cc=5739. dead. October 26, 2012. ESPN Soccernet. 23 March 2010. 26 July 2011.
  2. News: "Palop es una referencia, me encanta su actitud". "Palop is a reference, I love his attitude". Diario de Sevilla. es. 11 September 2010. 20 February 2017.
  3. News: El Recreativo refuerza su portería con Manu Fernández. Recreativo bolster goal with Manu Fernández. Marca. es. 27 June 2011. 20 February 2017.
  4. News: Manu Fernández y Dorronsoro serán los dos porteros. Manu Fernández and Dorronsoro will be the two goalkeepers. Diario AS. V.. Guillén. es. 13 July 2012. 20 February 2017.
  5. News: El Alavés ficha al portero Manuel Fernández. Alavés sign goalkeeper Manuel Fernández. Marca. es. 3 July 2014. 20 February 2017.
  6. News: El Depor refuerza la portería con Manu Fernández. Depor bolster goal with Manu Fernández. Diario AS. Luis. De la Cruz. es. 23 August 2015. 20 February 2017.
  7. News: Lux, otro palo en la portería. Lux, another blow in goal. La Opinión A Coruña. E.. Cobas. es. 5 April 2016. 20 February 2017.
  8. News: Machine Sazi set to sign Spanish keeper. Tehran Times. 16 July 2016. 15 February 2017.
  9. Web site: El Marbella FC ficha al portero Manu, que llega desde la liga de Irán. Marbella FC sign goalkeeper Manu, who arrives from the Iranian league. Marbella 24 Horas. es. 31 January 2017. 15 February 2017.