Mikel González Explained

Mikel González
Fullname:Mikel González de Martín Martínez
Birth Date:24 September 1985
Birth Place:Mondragón, Spain
Position:Centre-back
Youthclubs1:Real Sociedad
Years1:2004–2006
Caps1:55
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2017
Caps2:282
Goals2:4
Years3:2017–2018
Caps3:27
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2023
Caps4:111
Goals4:3
Totalcaps:475
Totalgoals:8
Nationalyears1:2007–2016
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0

Mikel González de Martín Martínez (born 24 September 1985) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

He spent most of his 19-year senior career with Real Sociedad, playing 300 competitive games and scoring six goals.[1] [2]

Club career

Real Sociedad

A product of Real Sociedad's youth ranks, González was born in Arrasate-Mondragón, Gipuzkoa,[3] and he made his first-team debut on 17 September 2005 in a 5–2 away loss against RCD Mallorca.[4] He went on to collect only two more La Liga appearances during that season.

With the Basque team in Segunda División, González became an undisputed starter, appearing in 35 games in the 2009–10 campaign as Real returned to the top flight after a three-year absence[5] and contributing one goal, in a 2–1 home victory over Villarreal CF B.[6] He added 32 matches – 30 starts – the following year as the club retained its league status, but somewhat lost his importance in the squad following the January 2011 signing of Norwegian Vadim Demidov and the emergence of youth product Iñigo Martínez.[7]

González returned to starting duties in the following seasons,[8] alongside Martínez: he started in all his 34 league appearances in 2012–13 in more than 3.000 minutes of action, scoring against Rayo Vallecano (4–0, at home)[9] and Valencia CF (5–2 away win)[10] as the Txuriurdin finished fourth and returned to the UEFA Champions League after one decade.[11] [2]

González made his debut in the Champions League on 17 September 2013, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–2 group phase home loss to FC Shakhtar Donetsk.[12] He added a further four games in that stage of the competition, as his team ranked last.[11]

In April 2017, by now a backup member of the squad, González made his 300th appearance for Real Sociedad. It was his final match serving the club, with his contract not renewed on its expiry the following month.[13]

Zaragoza

On 29 August 2017, free agent González signed a two-year deal with Real Zaragoza in the second division.[14] He scored his only goal for the Aragonese – play-offs notwithstanding[15] – on 2 October, helping the visitors to draw 2–2 at Real Oviedo.[16]

González terminated his contract on 8 July 2018.[17]

AEK Larnaca

On 3 July 2018, the 32-year-old González moved abroad for the first time in his career and joined Cypriot First Division club AEK Larnaca FC on a one-year contract.[18] He retired in May 2023.[2]

Honours

Real Sociedad

2009–10[5]

AEK Larnaca

2018[19]

Notes and References

  1. News: El selecto club de los 300 partidos. The select 300-game club. Mundo Deportivo. Xabier. Isasa. es. 24 March 2017. 20 February 2024.
  2. News: Mikel González se retira. Mikel González retires. Mundo Deportivo. Unai. Valverde. es. 29 May 2023. 20 February 2024.
  3. News: Mondragón, una 'fábrica' de defensas txuriurdines. Mondragón, a 'factory' of txuriurdin defenders. Marca. Jon. Zabala. es. 22 September 2017. 19 October 2017.
  4. News: Arango fulmina a la Real con un 'hat trick'. Arango obliterates Real with a hat-trick. El Mundo. es. 18 September 2005. 2 February 2016.
  5. News: 2–0. La Real Sociedad gana al Celta y asciende como campeón de Segunda. 2–0. Real Sociedad beat Celta and promote as Segunda champions. La Información. es. 13 June 2010. 5 July 2022.
  6. News: La Real, a las puertas de Primera División tras ganar al Villarreal B. Real, at the doors of Primera División after defeating Villarreal B. El Mundo. es. 30 May 2010. 21 September 2017.
  7. News: Ansotegi resta importancia a su cambio de rol. Ansotegi downplays his change of role. Mundo Deportivo. Germán. Melero. es. 3 September 2011. 2 February 2016.
  8. News: Se busca sustituto para Mikel González. Replacement for Mikel González wanted. Mundo Deportivo. Ángel. López. es. 13 March 2012. 28 August 2013.
  9. Web site: Sociedad stun Vallecano. ESPN FC. 19 November 2012. 28 August 2013.
  10. Web site: Sociedad hit Valencia for five. ESPN FC. 1 December 2012. 28 August 2013.
  11. Web site: Real Sociedad volta à Champions após 10 anos: os segredos do projeto. Real Sociedad return to the Champions League after 10 years: the secrets of the project. Globo Esporte. Rodrigo. Lois. pt. 2 June 2023. 20 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Teixeira on target as Shakhtar ruin Real's night. UEFA. Graham. Hunter. 17 September 2013. 11 September 2017.
  13. News: Mikel González: 300 partidos y adiós a la Real Sociedad. Mikel González: 300 matches and goodbye to Real Sociedad. Marca. Óscar. Badallo. es. 30 April 2017. 21 September 2017.
  14. Web site: Principio de acuerdo para la incorporación del futbolista Mikel González. Agreement in principle for the addition of footballer Mikel González. Real Zaragoza. es. 29 August 2017. 30 August 2017.
  15. News: Increíble eliminación del Real Zaragoza tras caer 1–2 ante el Numancia. Incredible Real Zaragoza elimination after falling 1–2 to Numancia. Heraldo de Aragón. Paco. Giménez. es. 9 June 2018. 25 July 2018.
  16. Web site: Oviedo y Zaragoza empatan en un vibrante partido en el Carlos Tartiere. Oviedo and Zaragoza draw in exciting match at the Carlos Tartiere. La Liga. es. 2 October 2018. 25 July 2018.
  17. Web site: Fin de la relación contractual con el futbolista Mikel González. End of contractual relationship with the footballer Mikel González. Real Zaragoza. es. 8 July 2018. 10 July 2018.
  18. News: Mikel González deja el Zaragoza y ficha por el AEK Larnaca. Mikel González leaves Zaragoza and signs for AEK Larnaca. Mundo Deportivo. es. 3 July 2018. 12 July 2018.
  19. Web site: Cyprus – List of Super Cup Finals. RSSSF. Xaris. Xarilaou. 5 July 2022.

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