Mista (footballer) explained

Mista
Fullname:	Miguel Ángel Ferrer Martínez^[1]
Birth Date:	12 November 1978
Birth Place:	Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain
Position:	Striker
Youthyears1:	1990–1994
Youthclubs1:	Peña Madridista Caravaca Cruz
Youthyears2:	1994–1995
Youthclubs2:	Caravaca Promesas
Youthyears3:	1995–1996
Youthclubs3:	Real Madrid
Years1:	1996–1997
Caps1:	29
Goals1:	9
Years2:	1997–1998
Caps2:	43
Goals2:	23
Years3:	1999–2001
Caps3:	84
Goals3:	22
Years4:	2001–2006
Caps4:	144
Goals4:	40
Years5:	2006–2008
Caps5:	35
Goals5:	3
Years6:	2008–2010
Caps6:	26
Goals6:	2
Years7:	2010
Caps7:	9
Goals7:	0
Totalcaps:	370
Totalgoals:	99
Nationalyears1:	1995
Nationalcaps1:	3
Nationalgoals1:	1
Nationalyears2:	1996–1997
Nationalcaps2:	10
Nationalgoals2:	1
Nationalyears3:	1999
Nationalcaps3:	1
Nationalgoals3:	0
Nationalyears4:	2005
Nationalcaps4:	2
Nationalgoals4:	0
Manageryears1:	2020–2021
Managerclubs1:	Atlético Ottawa

Miguel Ángel Ferrer Martínez (born 12 November 1978), known as Mista, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.

An unsuccessful Real Madrid youth graduate, he would make a name for himself with Valencia, helping the club win a total of four major titles during a five-year spell and scoring a total of 48 goals in 218 La Liga games over ten seasons, in representation of four teams.

Club career

Spain

Born in Caravaca de la Cruz, Region of Murcia, Mista was a protégé of Rafael Benítez, who worked with the player at CD Tenerife, and then Valencia CF.^[2]

At Tenerife, Mista – along with Curro Torres and Luis García – was a key member of the team^[3] that won promotion to La Liga in 2001. He subsequently signed for Valencia, and was a prominent member^[4] of the successful sides that won two league titles and the 2004 UEFA Cup, where he scored the second goal in the 2–0 win against Olympique de Marseille.^[5] On 21 March 2004 he netted a hat-trick for the eventual champions in a 5–1 home victory over RCD Mallorca,^[6] but his goal rate decreased drastically after the 2004–05 campaign.

In July 2006, Mista joined Atlético Madrid,^[7] playing 29 games in his first season but almost absolutely no part in the following. In July 2008, the free agent moved to fellow league club Deportivo de La Coruña on a three-year contract,^[8] scoring in his competitive debut by netting the first in a 2–1 defeat of Real Madrid on 31 August;^[9] constantly troubled by injuries and a loss of form, his second league goal came more than a year later (7 November 2009) in a 2–0 away victory against Getafe CF.^[10] ^[11]

Toronto FC

After only two official goals for Deportivo in two seasons, Mista signed with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer on 6 July 2010, in a deal running until the end of the campaign.^[12] He made his unofficial debut for the team in a friendly against Bolton Wanderers at BMO Field on the 21st, and first appeared in the league in a home match against FC Dallas on 24 July. His first and only goal came on 17 August, in a 2–1 home win over Cruz Azul in the CONCACAF Champions League.^[13]

On 24 November 2010, in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, 32-year-old Mista was waived following a poor season with Toronto.^[14] He announced his retirement on 14 August of the following year.^[15]

International career

Mista made his debut with Spain on 26 March 2005, in a 3–0 friendly win against China in Salamanca.^[16] He added another cap seven months later, in a 6–0 away thrashing of San Marino for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.^[17]

Coaching career

Mista began working as a coach at youth level, first with Valencia^[18] then with Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano.^[19] On 11 February 2020, he was announced as the first manager of Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa at the club's official launch event.^[20] ^[21] After the COVID-19 pandemic, he finally made his managerial debut on 15 August in a 2–2 draw with York9 FC in neutral Prince Edward Island;^[22] the team from the capital finished the season in seventh place, one above last.^[23]