Mikel Llorente Explained

Mikel Llorente
Full Name:	Mikel Llorente Etxarri
Birth Date:	15 December 1981
Birth Place:	Hondarribia, Spain
Position:	Midfielder
Currentclub:	Real Unión (manager)
Youthclubs1:	Real Sociedad
Years1:	2001
Caps1:	5
Goals1:	1
Years2:	2002–2003
Years3:	2003–2012
Manageryears1:	2008–2012
Managerclubs1:	(youth)
Manageryears2:	2012–2017
Manageryears3:	2017–2018
Managerclubs3:	Chiasso (assistant)
Manageryears4:	2018–2022
Managerclubs4:	Real Sociedad (youth)
Manageryears5:	2022–2024
Managerclubs5:	Real Sociedad C
Manageryears6:	2024–
Managerclubs6:	Real Unión

Mikel Llorente Echarri (born 15 December 1981) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and the manager of Real Unión.

Playing career

Born in Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Llorente was a Real Sociedad youth graduate. He featured with the reserves in the 2001–02 season in Segunda División B,^[1] but left the club in December and subsequently represented Tercera División side .^[2]

Llorente subsequently returned to his hometown, playing for in the regional leagues.^[2]

Managerial career

While still a player, Llorente managed the youth sides of Hondarribia,^{[2] [3]} before being appointed in charge of the first team on 6 April 2012.^[4] On 22 June 2017, he moved abroad and joined Guille Abascal's staff at Swiss side FC Chiasso, as his assistant.^[5]

On 20 June 2018, Llorente returned to Real Sociedad, after becoming an assistant of the Juvenil A squad.^[6] He was named in charge of the Easo (Juvenil B) squad in 2020,^[7] before returning to the Juvenil A in July 2021, now as manager.^[8]

On 31 May 2022, Llorente was named at the helm of the C-team in Segunda Federación, replacing Sergio Francisco who had been appointed in charge of the B's.^[9] On 2 June 2024, he departed the Txuri-urdin,^[10] and was appointed manager of Primera Federación side Real Unión nineteen days later.^[11]

Personal life

Llorente's older brother Joseba was also a footballer.^[12] A forward, he too played for Real Sociedad.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mikel Llorente Etxarri. Real Sociedad. 22 July 2024.
2. Web site: «He entrenado a media plantilla y ahora me llaman el veterano». "I have trained half the squad and now they call me the veteran". El Diario Vasco. es. 23 October 2009. 22 July 2024.
3. Web site: «Este equipo no ha jugado nunca en Tercera, pero la gente habla ya de...». "This team have never played in Tercera, but the people already talk about them...". El Diario Vasco. es. 30 January 2009. 22 July 2024.
4. Web site: Mikel Llorente le releva al destituido Ángel Martín, en el Hondarribia. Mikel Llorente replaces the sacked Ángel Martín, at Hondarribia. El Diario Vasco. es. 6 April 2012. 22 July 2024.
5. Web site: Mikel Llorente entrenará en la segunda división suiza. Mikel Llorente will manage in the Swiss second division. Mundo Deportivo. es. 22 June 2017. 22 July 2024.
6. Web site: Olabe introduce cambios en el equipo técnico. Olabe makes changes in the technical staff. El Diario Vasco. es. 20 June 2018. 22 July 2024.
7. Web site: También la Real C y el Easo. Real C and Easo as well. Real Sociedad. es. 12 August 2020. 22 July 2024.
8. Web site: Arrancan los juveniles. The juveniles start up. Real Sociedad. es. 22 July 2021. 22 July 2024.
9. Web site: Cambio en el banquillo de la Real Sociedad C. Changes on the bench of Real Sociedad C. Golsmedia. es. 31 May 2022. 22 July 2024.
10. Web site: Mikel Llorente no seguirá en la Real C. Mikel Llorente will not continue at Real C. Erreala.com. es. 2 June 2024. 22 July 2024.
11. Web site: Mikel Llorente, nuevo entrenador del Real Unión. Mikel Llorente, new manager of Real Unión. Real Unión. es. 21 June 2024. 22 July 2024.
12. Web site: La oportunidad de Mikel Llorente. The opportunity of Mikel Llorente. Mundo Deportivo. es. 14 September 2017. 22 July 2024.