Miguel Ángel (footballer, born 1978) explained

Miguel Ángel
Fullname:Miguel Ángel Lozano Ayala
Birth Date:16 September 1978
Birth Place:Sabadell, Spain
Position:Defensive midfielder
Youthyears1:1993–1995
Youthclubs1:Sabadell
Years1:1994–1995
Caps1:29
Goals1:8
Years2:1995–1996
Caps2:18
Goals2:0
Years3:1996–1997
Caps3:32
Goals3:2
Years4:1997–1999
Caps4:85
Goals4:15
Years5:2000–2001
Caps5:63
Goals5:2
Years6:2001–2005
Caps6:131
Goals6:7
Years7:2005–2008
Caps7:33
Goals7:0
Years8:2007–2008
Clubs8:Levante (loan)
Caps8:23
Goals8:1
Years9:2008–2010
Caps9:19
Goals9:0
Years10:2009–2010
Clubs10:Gimnàstic (loan)
Caps10:29
Goals10:2
Years11:2010–2011
Caps11:17
Goals11:0
Years12:2011
Caps12:14
Goals12:1
Years13:2011–2012
Caps13:21
Goals13:7
Years14:2012
Caps14:14
Goals14:0
Years15:2012–2014
Clubs15:Caldes Montbui
Caps15:52
Goals15:24
Totalcaps:580
Totalgoals:69
Manageryears1:2015
Managerclubs1:Caldes Montbui B
Manageryears2:2015–2016
Managerclubs2:Ordino
Manageryears3:2017
Managerclubs3:Lusitanos

Miguel Ángel Lozano Ayala (born 16 September 1978), known as Miguel Ángel, is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Over eight seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 206 matches and eight goals, mainly representing Málaga (five years, two spells). He appeared in the Champions League with Betis.

Club career

Born in Sabadell, Barcelona, Catalonia, Miguel Ángel began his career at hometown's CE Sabadell FC, where he played during the 1995–96 season in the Segunda División B. He moved to neighbours FC Barcelona in 1996, spending some time with its C and B teams.[1] [2]

In summer 1999, Miguel Ángel signed for Levante UD, where he spent two years in the Segunda División. In the 2001–02 campaign he joined Málaga CF, being a key element in midfield during his five-year stay, scoring seven La Liga goals and helping the side to the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup.[3]

For 2005–06, Miguel Ángel was transferred to Andalusia neighbours Real Betis in a deal worth 2 million, signing a five-year contract with the club.[4] Early into his first season, he suffered ligament damage to his right knee in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a 4–0 loss.[5]

Miguel Ángel returned to Levante in July 2007 on a one-year loan,[6] being released at the end of the campaign and subsequently rejoining Málaga.[7] After being relatively used in the first season in his second spell, he was loaned to Gimnàstic de Tarragona in division two.[8]

On 13 July 2010, Miguél Ángel was released by Málaga. Two weeks later, at nearly 32, he signed a one-year contract with SD Ponferradina, recently returned to the second tier;[9] in the following transfer window, however, he was released.[10]

Miguel Ángel then spent three years in the lower leagues, with CF Badalona, CD Castellón and Terrassa FC. He moved abroad for the first time on 28 May 2015, becoming player-manager of FC Ordino in Andorra's Primera Divisió.[11]

Honours

Málaga

2002[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arnau: "El Barça es el equipo que mejor juega de Europa". Arnau: "Barça are the team playing the best in Europe". Málaga CF. Spanish. 30 October 2008. 9 December 2022.
  2. Web site: Miguel Ángel Lozano: "No vaig tenir cap padrí, el que he aconseguit m'ho he treballat". Miguel Ángel Lozano: "I did not have friends in high places, everything I've achieved is a product of my work". Ràdio Sabadell. Adrián. Arroyo. Catalan. 28 January 2020. 9 December 2022.
  3. Web site: The Intertoto comes of age. Málaga CF. 27 August 2020. 9 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Betis make Miguel Ángel move. UEFA. 1 August 2005. 22 April 2010.
  5. Web site: Miguel Ángel nightmare for Betis. UEFA. 20 October 2005. 22 April 2010.
  6. News: "Me llamó Julio y no me lo pensé ni un segundo". "Julio called me and I did not think about it twice". Diario AS. Javier. Mínguez. Spanish. 9 September 2007. 9 December 2022.
  7. News: Miguel Ángel se desvincula del Betis y regresa al Málaga CF. Miguel Ángel cuts ties with Betis and returns to Málaga CF. Málaga Hoy. Spanish. 1 August 2008. 9 December 2022.
  8. News: Miguel Ángel y Velasco refuerzan a Nástic y Cádiz. Miguel Ángel and Velasco bolster Nástic and Cádiz. Marca. Jesús. Ballesteros. D.. Martínez. Spanish. 1 July 2009. 9 December 2022.
  9. News: Miguel Ángel, otro refuerzo de lujo para la 'Ponfe'. Miguel Ángel, another deluxe signing for 'Ponfe'. Marca. Jorge. Dargel. Spanish. 29 July 2010. 20 December 2012.
  10. News: La Ponferradina ficha al centrocampista Nsaliwa. Ponferradina sign midfielder Nsaliwa. Diario AS. Spanish. 27 January 2011. 9 December 2022.
  11. News: Un exprimera, nou tècnic de l'Ordino. Former Primera man, new manager of Ordino. Bondia. Víctor. Duaso. Catalan. 28 May 2015. 7 June 2016.