Pedro Munitis
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Pedro Munitis Álvarez[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 19 June 1975||
Place of birth | Santander, Spain[1] | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Youth career | |||
Santoña | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1992–1993 | Santoña | ||
1993–1997 | Racing B | ||
1995–2000 | Racing Santander | 83 | (14) |
1997–1998 | → Badajoz (loan) | 28 | (10) |
2000–2003 | Real Madrid | 53 | (4) |
2002–2003 | → Racing Santander (loan) | 30 | (8) |
2003–2006 | Deportivo La Coruña | 90 | (5) |
2006–2012 | Racing Santander | 191 | (12) |
Total | 475 | (53) | |
International career | |||
1999–2002 | Spain | 21 | (2) |
Managerial career | |||
2012–2014 | Reocín Women | ||
2014–2015 | Bansander (youth) | ||
2015 | Racing Santander (assistant) | ||
2015–2016 | Racing Santander | ||
2016–2017 | Ponferradina | ||
2018–2019 | UCAM Murcia | ||
2020 | Badajoz | ||
2021–2022 | Sabadell | ||
2023 | Lugo | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Pedro Munitis Álvarez (born 19 June 1975) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a forward, currently a manager.
His professional career was mainly associated with Racing de Santander – he also represented Real Madrid for two years – and he played 447 La Liga matches over 17 seasons, scoring 43 goals.[2][3]
A Spain international in the late 1990s/early 2000s, Munitis represented the country at Euro 2000.
Playing career
[edit]Club
[edit]Born in Santander, Cantabria, Munitis played in three separate periods for hometown Racing de Santander. He first appeared with its first team on 22 January 1995, in a 0–0 home draw against Real Sociedad.[2]
After a loan to Badajoz (Segunda División)[2] and scoring 14 goals in 72 league games with Racing from 1998 to 2000,[1] Munitis attracted attention from La Liga giants Real Madrid, who signed him for £6.8 million.[4] He was relatively used in his two-year spell at the capital club, helping it to one league and the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League.
Munitis spent the 2002–03 season on loan at Racing Santander, notably netting (and celebrating) against Real Madrid in a 2–0 home win on 19 October 2002.[5][6] In the following off-season, he was purchased up by Deportivo de La Coruña on a free transfer;[7] after a poor first year he would be one of the Galicia side's most important attacking players, also being used as a left winger in order to provide rest for veteran captain Fran and being his replacement when he retired at the end of 2004–05.[8]
Munitis returned to Racing in July 2006, forming an interesting attacking partnership with gigantic Serbian Nikola Žigić in his debut campaign[9][10] and helping it achieve a first ever qualification for the UEFA Cup in his second.[11] On 19 April 2009, he played his 200th league match for the club, at Espanyol.[12][13]
In 2009–10, the 34-year-old Munitis was again an undisputed starter, but did not manage to find the net in 29 appearances, and his season was over during a 3–1 home victory over Espanyol due to a knee injury, on 14 April 2010;[14] at that time he ranked second in assists, only trailing Barcelona's Lionel Messi.[15][16]
On 17 October 2010, after more than one year without scoring, Munitis netted from 30 metres for the only goal of the home fixture against Almería.[17] During the season, he again featured prominently in the starting XI under both Miguel Ángel Portugal and his successor Marcelino García Toral, the latter returned to the Campos de Sport de El Sardinero after nearly three years. In the following campaign he failed to score in 32 matches, and Racing returned to the second tier after one decade, with the player announcing shortly after his decision to leave his main club.[18]
International
[edit]Munitis earned 21 caps for Spain, scoring two goals. He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 2000, appearing as a substitute and netting in a 4–3 group stage win over Yugoslavia[19] and starting in the quarter-final loss to France (2–1).[4]
Munitis' debut came on 27 March 1999 in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Austria, playing 30 minutes in a 9–0 thrashing in Valencia.[20]
International goals
[edit]# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition[21] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 18 August 1999 | Polish Army, Warsaw, Poland | Poland | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
2. | 21 June 2000 | Jan Breydel, Bruges, Belgium | Yugoslavia | 2–2 | 3–4 | Euro 2000 |
Style of play
[edit]Described as a "poacher" in the media, Munitis was capable of playing either as a forward or midfielder but was usually deployed as a left winger, and was one of the shortest players in the Spanish top flight throughout his career. He was best known for his speed, dribbling skills, creative ability, direct movement and fighting spirit, which made him an effective offensive threat inside the penalty box and difficult for opposing defenders to mark, with Frenchman Lilian Thuram labelling him as one of his most difficult opponents.[22][23][24][25][26][27][7]
Coaching career
[edit]Still not having announced his retirement, Munitis began his managerial career, with women's football club Reocín.[28] In 2014 he was appointed at Bansander, taking charge of the youth squads.[29]
Munitis returned to Racing on 3 March 2015, being appointed assistant manager along with former teammate Gonzalo Colsa.[30] After their relegation, he took the reins of the team in Segunda División B and won the group, but left in June 2016 following elimination by Cádiz in the playoffs.[31]
On 17 October 2016, Munitis succeeded Manolo Herrero as manager of newly relegated Ponferradina, with Colsa as his assistant.[32] He resigned five months later with the team lying in sixth in division three, having won exactly a third of his games.[33]
Munitis returned to third-tier management on 26 March 2018, when he was hired by UCAM Murcia until the end of the season.[34] Despite missing his objective of a play-off place, he was given another year in the job.[35] He was dismissed on 29 April 2019 with the team still in contention for the play-offs with three rounds to go, and replaced by Juan Merino.[36]
On 4 February 2020, Munitis succeeded Mehdi Nafti at Badajoz, where he had played over two decades ago.[37] After the season was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team lost in the playoff semi-finals on penalties to Barcelona B.[38] He left on his own terms in October, shortly before the start of the new campaign.[39]
Munitis was appointed at Sabadell of the Primera División RFEF on 23 November 2021, until the end of the season and with the option of another year.[40] He took the team out of the relegation zone and challenged for the play-offs until the penultimate round of fixtures; in June, he left after turning down a contract renewal.[41]
On 21 June 2023, Munitis was named in charge of Lugo, recently relegated to the third division.[42] On 16 December, he was sacked.[43]
Managerial statistics
[edit]- As of 16 December 2023
Team | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
Racing Santander | 30 June 2015 | 12 June 2016 | 43 | 21 | 11 | 11 | 56 | 36 | +20 | 48.84 | [44] |
Ponferradina | 17 October 2016 | 19 March 2017 | 27 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 27 | 21 | +6 | 37.04 | [45] |
UCAM Murcia | 26 March 2018 | 28 April 2019 | 44 | 20 | 9 | 15 | 59 | 48 | +11 | 45.45 | [46] |
Badajoz | 4 February 2020 | 10 October 2020 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 42.86 | [47] |
Sabadell | 24 November 2021 | 25 June 2022 | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 19 | +17 | 53.85 | [48] |
Lugo | 21 June 2023 | 16 December 2023 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 47.37 | [49] |
Total | 166 | 77 | 43 | 46 | 206 | 147 | +59 | 46.39 | — |
Honours
[edit]Real Madrid
See also
[edit]- List of La Liga players (400+ appearances)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Pedro MUNITIS Álvarez". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ a b c "Munitis". El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- ^ "Munitis es ya el racinguista con más partidos en Primera" [Munitis is already Racing player with more games in Primera]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Munitis in "dream move"". BBC Sport. 11 July 2000. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ "Spain round-up: Madrid stumble at Santander". UEFA. 19 October 2002. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Racing 2 Real Madrid 0 (golazo de Munitis en la 02/03)" [Racing 2 Real Madrid 0 (Munitis wonder goal in 02/03)] (in Spanish). YouTube. 4 June 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
- ^ a b "Munitis makes Depor move". UEFA. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "Munitis: "Si soy suplente mi rendimiento baja y me perjudica"" [Munitis: "If i do not start i don't contribute as much and that is harmful to me"]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 3 October 2003. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ Fernández-Cueto, Francisco (30 October 2006). "Munitis y Zigic, pareja letal" [Munitis and Zigic, lethal duo]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "El Racing, sin Zigic ni Munitis, se hunde" [Racing, without Zigic nor Munitis, sink]. El País (in Spanish). 10 December 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ "El Racing se mete por primera vez en la UEFA al ganar a Osasuna (1–0)" [Racing reach UEFA for the first time after beating Osasuna (1–0)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 18 May 2008. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "Munitis suma 200 partidos con el Racing en Primera" [Munitis reaches 200 games with Racing in Primera] (in Spanish). Racing Santander. 20 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Triste celebración para Munitis y Luis Fernández" [Sad celebration for Munitis and Luis Fernández]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). 20 April 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ "Munitis se perderá el resto de la temporada por sufrir una rotura del ligamento lateral interno de su rodilla dercha [sic]" [Munitis to lose rest of the season after internal lateral ligament rupture to his right knee]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 April 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ López, Pedro (19 January 2010). "Munitis es clave en la recuperación del equipo" [Munitis is key in team recovery]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ^ Salinas, D. (4 February 2010). "Messi, goleador y asistente" [Messi, scorer and passer]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Racing Santander 1–0 Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 17 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
- ^ "Munitis se despide orgulloso de su carrera racinguista" [Munitis bids farewell to Racing career with pride] (in Spanish). Racing Santander. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Spain survive in seven-goal classic". BBC Sport. 21 June 2000. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ Ros, Cayetano (28 March 1999). "España vive una noche idílica" [Spain live idyllic night]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 November 2015.
- ^ "Munitis". European Football. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (21 October 2002). "Pocket Pedro delights in Real revenge". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Depor edge Valencia". Eurosport. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Munitis back at Racing". Eurosport. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (19 March 2007). "Little and Large deliver the perfect punch-line for Racing". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Roche, Calum (12 December 2021). "Barcelona, Zidane, Ronaldo... Thuram reveals player anecdotes". Diario AS. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "An electrifying forward in Madrid's Ninth European Cup win". Real Madrid CF. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Mata, Yésica (10 September 2012). "Un gol en el minuto final priva a Munitis de un estreno con triunfo en el banquillo" [A goal in the last minute deprives Munitis of win in his bench debut]. El Diario Montañés (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Pedro Munitis dirigirá al Juvenil del Bansander" [Pedro Munitis will manage Bansander's Juvenil] (in Spanish). Contrameta. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ González, Roberto (3 March 2015). "Hoy comienza la quinta era de Pedro Munitis en el Racing" [Pedro Munitis' fifth spell at Racing begins today]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ "Munitis deja de ser entrenador del Racing" [Pedro Munitis no longer manager of Racing]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 June 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Carrera, Álvaro (17 October 2016). "Pedro Munitis, nuevo entrenador de la Ponferradina" [Pedro Munitis, new manager of Ponferradina]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ Iranzo, Pedro (19 March 2017). "Munitis dimite como entrenador de la Ponferradina" [Munitis resigns as manager of Ponferradina]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "El UCAM CF ficha al cántabro Pedro Munitis como entrenador" [UCAM CF sign Cantabrian Pedro Munitis as manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 26 March 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ F. Martínez, Alberto (13 June 2018). "Pedro Munitis llega a un acuerdo para seguir en el UCAM Murcia" [Pedro Munitis reaches an agreement to continue at UCAM Murcia]. La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Munitis, despedido del UCAM" [Munitis, fired by UCAM]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 29 April 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ "Pedro Munitis nuevo entrenador del Badajoz" [Pedro Munitis new manager of Badajoz]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 February 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ Bris, David (23 July 2020). "Barcelona B 1–1 Badajoz: El Badajoz se queda fuera del sueño del ascenso en los penaltis" [Barcelona B 1–1 Badajoz: Badajoz miss out on promotion dream on penalties] (in Spanish). Canal Extremadura Televisión. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Pérez, Javi (14 October 2020). "Munitis se va del Badajoz «por voluntad propia»" [Munitis leaves Badajoz "by own free will"]. Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Figueras, Pere (23 November 2021). "Pedro Munitis és l'escollit per substituir Antonio Hidalgo" [Pedro Munitis is chosen to replace Antonio Hidalgo]. Diari de Sabadell (in Catalan). Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Figueras, Pere (25 June 2022). "Pedro Munitis no continuarà com a entrenador del CE Sabadell" [Pedro Munitis will not continue as manager of CE Sabadell]. Diari de Sabadell (in Catalan). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ "Pedro Munitis, nuevo entrenador del CD Lugo" [Pedro Munitis, new manager of CD Lugo] (in Spanish). CD Lugo. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Comunicado oficial. Pedro Munitis" [Official announcement. Pedro Munitis] (in Spanish). CD Lugo. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2015–16 season". BDFutbol.
- ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2016–17 season". BDFutbol.
- ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2017–18 season". BDFutbol.
"Matches Pedro Munitis, 2018–19 season". BDFutbol. - ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2019–20 season". BDFutbol.
- ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2021–22 season". BDFutbol.
- ^ "Matches Pedro Munitis, 2023–24 season". BDFutbol.
External links
[edit]- Pedro Munitis at BDFutbol
- Pedro Munitis manager profile at BDFutbol
- Pedro Munitis at National-Football-Teams.com
- Pedro Munitis – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Pedro Munitis at Soccerway
- 1975 births
- Living people
- Spanish men's footballers
- Footballers from Santander, Spain
- Men's association football forwards
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- Tercera División players
- Rayo Cantabria players
- Racing de Santander players
- CD Badajoz players
- Real Madrid CF players
- Deportivo de La Coruña players
- UEFA Champions League winning players
- Spain men's international footballers
- UEFA Euro 2000 players
- Spanish football managers
- Segunda División B managers
- Primera Federación managers
- Racing de Santander managers
- SD Ponferradina managers
- UCAM Murcia CF managers
- CD Badajoz managers
- CE Sabadell FC managers
- CD Lugo managers