Víctor Muñoz Manrique (born 15 March 1957), known simply as Víctor as a player, is a Spanish retired football midfielder and manager.

Víctor
Personal information
Full name Víctor Muñoz Manrique[1]
Date of birth (1957-03-15) 15 March 1957 (age 67)[1]
Place of birth Zaragoza, Spain[1]
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Zaragoza
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1976–1981 Zaragoza 127 (12)
1981–1988 Barcelona 224 (14)
1988–1990 Sampdoria 48 (2)
1990-1991 St Mirren 18 (1)
1991 Zaragoza 4 (0)
Total 421 (29)
International career
1979–1980 Spain U23 7 (2)
1979–1983 Spain amateur 11 (1)
1980–1981 Spain B 3 (0)
1981–1988 Spain 60 (3)
Managerial career
1996–1997 Mallorca
1997 Logroñés
1999–2000 Lleida
2000–2002 Villarreal
2004–2006 Zaragoza
2006–2007 Panathinaikos
2007–2008 Recreativo
2008–2009 Getafe
2010–2011 Terek Grozny
2011–2012 Neuchâtel Xamax
2012–2013 Sion
2014 Zaragoza
Medal record
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up 1984 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

An all-around midfield unit, he was best known for his great physical strength that helped him tire his opponents in the early stages of the match.[2] He spent most of his professional career with Barcelona, winning six titles and amassing La Liga totals of 332 games and 25 goals; in the competition, he also represented Zaragoza.[3]

A Spain international during the 1980s, Víctor represented the country at the 1986 World Cup and two European Championships. He later became a manager, leading four top-division teams and winning the Copa del Rey for Zaragoza in 2004.

Playing career edit

Club edit

Víctor was born in Zaragoza, Aragon. After starting off with hometown club Real Zaragoza and being relegated in his first professional season,[4] he was purchased by La Liga powerhouse FC Barcelona, being a very important element for the Catalans in a seven-year spell; on 4 June 1983, he scored his team's first goal in a 2–1 win against Real Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey.[5]

Víctor was also one of the first Spaniards to ever play in Serie A, with two seasons with U.C. Sampdoria. After a quick return to Zaragoza he finished his career at 34, teaming up with former Barça teammate Steve Archibald at St Mirren.[6]

International edit

Víctor was a regular for Spain for most of the 1980s, making his debut on 25 March 1981 in a 2–1 friendly win over England and going on to earn a further 59 caps with three goals.[7] He played for the nation at the 1986 FIFA World Cup as well as the UEFA Euro 1984 (in a final runner-up position to hosts France) and 1988 tournaments, retiring from international duty immediately after that group-stage exit.[8][2]

International goals edit

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[7]
1. 24 February 1982 Luis Casanova, Valencia, Spain   Scotland 1–0 3–0 Friendly
2. 17 November 1982 Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland   Republic of Ireland 1–3 3–3 Euro 1984 qualifying
3. 24 September 1986 El Molinón, Gijón, Spain   Greece 3–0 3–1 Friendly

Coaching career edit

Muñoz started working as a manager in the mid-1990s, being successively at the helm of RCD Mallorca, CD Logroñés, UE Lleida, Villarreal CF and Zaragoza.[9] With the last of those teams, he won the 2003–04 domestic cup with a 3–2 extra time victory over Real Madrid's Galácticos.[10]

On 8 October 2006, Muñoz signed a two-year contract with Greece's Panathinaikos FC, becoming their 18th coach in ten years.[11] However, he returned to Spain in June 2007 to take over at Recreativo de Huelva,[12] from where he was sacked the following February.[13]

For the 2008–09 campaign, Muñoz was appointed at Getafe CF. Following a string of seven losses in nine games that left the team from the outskirts of Madrid one point above the relegation zone, he was dismissed in April 2009, making way for former Real Madrid player Míchel.[14]

In late December 2010, after more than one year out of football, Muñoz was named head coach of Russian Premier League side FC Terek Grozny.[15] He left his post in Chechnya after less than one month due to failed contract negotiations, being replaced by Ruud Gullit.[16]

Muñoz returned to active in early September 2011, when he became Neuchâtel Xamax FCS's third manager of the season, replacing his compatriot Joaquín Caparrós.[17] He continued his career in the Swiss Super League, with a brief stint at FC Sion from December 2012 until the following February.[18]

On 19 March 2014, Muñoz returned to Zaragoza, succeeding Paco Herrera at a club at risk of relegation to Segunda División B.[19] He was dismissed on 24 November with the side in 8th, one point off the play-offs.[20]

Managerial statistics edit

As of 22 November 2014
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Mallorca   28 January 1996 21 April 1997 54 32 14 8 90 48 +42 059.26 [21]
Logroñés   24 June 1997 18 December 1997 21 2 8 11 14 26 −12 009.52 [22]
Lleida   9 March 1999 15 June 2000 63 24 16 23 99 88 +11 038.10 [23]
Villarreal   15 June 2000 11 September 2002 94 33 25 36 128 129 −1 035.11 [24]
Zaragoza   20 January 2004 15 May 2006 121 44 37 40 168 170 −2 036.36 [25]
Panathinaikos   10 October 2006 16 May 2007 38 17 10 11 48 34 +14 044.74
Recreativo   4 July 2007 4 February 2008 26 7 8 11 21 33 −12 026.92 [26]
Getafe   17 June 2008 27 April 2009 35 8 11 16 43 53 −10 022.86 [27]
Terek Grozny   22 December 2010 15 January 2011 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !
Neuchâtel Xamax   2 September 2011 26 January 2012 13 7 2 4 21 15 +6 053.85
Sion   12 December 2012 25 February 2013 4 2 0 2 5 7 −2 050.00
Zaragoza   19 March 2014 24 November 2014 27 8 10 9 33 37 −4 029.63 [28]
Career Total 496 184 141 171 670 640 +30 037.10

Honours edit

Player edit

Zaragoza

Barcelona

Sampdoria

Spain

Manager edit

Zaragoza

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Víctor Muñoz at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b Micó, Ana Beatriz (24 August 2020). "1980 * 1990 Los mejores jugadores" [1980 * 1990 The best players]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  3. ^ Stevenson, Jonathan; Bevan, Chris (22 April 2008). "When Bryan Robson tamed Barca". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. ^ Ferrer, Pedro Luis (13 April 2020). "El sexto ascenso del Real Zaragoza (I)" [Real Zaragoza's sixth promotion (I)]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. ^ Castillo, Juan José (5 June 1983). "2–1: ¡Que final!" [2–1: What a final!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Víctor ficha por el Saint Mirren escocés" [Víctor signs for Scotland's Saint Mirren]. El País (in Spanish). 10 November 1990. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Víctor Muñoz Manrique – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  8. ^ a b Mentruit, Imma (13 April 2016). "1984: Los 'bleus' se coronan tras el error de Arconada" [1984: ‘Bleus’ crowned after Arconada's mistake]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Zaragoza get more of Muñoz". UEFA. 14 June 2005. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Beckham misses out on Cup". BBC Sport. 17 March 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Muñoz to lead Panathinaikos bid". UEFA. 10 October 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  12. ^ "Muñoz steps in at Recreativo". UEFA. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Muñoz makes way at lowly Recre". UEFA. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Muñoz makes way at struggling Getafe". UEFA. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Soccer-Spain's Munoz named coach of Chechen club Terek Grozny". Reuters. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  16. ^ Fyodorov, Gennady (18 January 2011). "Gullit named coach of Russian club Terek Grozny". Reuters. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Víctor Muñoz dirigirá al Neuchatel de Suiza" [Víctor Muñoz to be in charge of Switzerland's Neuchatel]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 5 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Gennaro Gattuso named player-coach at FC Sion in Switzerland". The Guardian. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Víctor Muñoz, nuevo entrenador del Real Zaragoza" [Víctor Muñoz, new manager of Real Zaragoza]. Libertad Digital (in Spanish). 19 March 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  20. ^ "El Zaragoza despide a Víctor Muñoz" [Zaragoza dismiss Víctor Muñoz]. El Correo (in Spanish). 24 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  27. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
    "Víctor Muñoz: Víctor Muñoz Manrique". BDFutbol. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  29. ^ Giménez, Paco (23 April 2016). "Aquel ascenso del Real Zaragoza el Día de San Jorge de 1978..." [That Real Zaragoza promotion on Saint George's Day in 1978...]. Heraldo de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  30. ^ Collado, Mónica (25 August 2004). "El Zaragoza sorprende al Valencia y logra su primera Supercopa" [Zaragoza surprise Valencia and get their first Supercup]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.

External links edit