He was most noted for his stellar crossing ability, also contributing with a fair share of goals. During his career he represented mainly Real Madrid – over a decade – achieving team and individual success.[2]
The son of a footballer who had to retire from the game at 27 after a road accident, Míchel was born in Madrid and joined Real Madrid at the age of 13,[3] his technique and physicality on the pitch quickly standing out.[2] He moved quickly through the ranks to the first team, appearing – and scoring – once in the 1981–82 season, through a penalty in a 2–1 away win over CD Castellón on 11 April 1982.[4]
In 1989, Míchel announced he would leave Real Madrid after having signed with an Italian side, but this never came to pass and he ended up staying until 1996. In his penultimate season, he suffered a severe knee injury which rendered him unavailable for several months,[3] but still bounced back for a final solid year, after which he left for Atlético Celaya in Mexico – where Butragueño was also playing – shortly after the arrival at Madrid of president Lorenzo Sanz. He retired from football in 1997.[2]
Míchel's career was not without incident: in 1988, he was hit by a bottle while on the pitch and, three years later, he was sanctioned by UEFA for using an unorthodox method of disrupting the concentration of Carlos Valderrama, in a game against Real Valladolid. The presiding judge in the case noted that "manipulating in public that of your neighbour which is a gift given exclusively to males by nature" violated a federation rule protecting a player's dignity.[6][7]
International
Míchel made his debut for the Spain national team on 20 November 1985 against Austria,[8] going on to appear in a further 65 internationals and score 21 goals (only missed a callup due to injury).[9] He played in the 1986[10] and the 1990 FIFA World Cups, netting a hat-trick against South Korea in Spain's second fixture during the latter tournament (3–1, famously shouting "I've earned this" after his last goal)[11][12] and also a penalty against Belgium in the country's final group match.[13]
Shortly after Javier Clemente's arrival as national boss, Míchel was deemed surplus to requirements and never called again, although only 29.[14] All national categories comprised, he received exactly 100 caps.[2]
Coaching career
In the summer of 2005, after working as a sports commentator with RTVE after his retirement (still active, he had already worked in the capacity at the 1994 World Cup) and also writing articles for Madrid's Marca,[3] Míchel was appointed manager of Rayo Vallecano.[15] The following year he returned to his alma mater as director of Real Madrid's sports city, the entire youth system, and manager duties at Real Madrid Castilla,[16] where he coached one of his sons, Adrián; under his management the side dropped down a level into Segunda División B and he was sacked, also leaving his post in the youth sides due to disagreements with president Ramón Calderón.[17]
On 27 April 2009, Míchel was appointed as coach of top-flight strugglers Getafe CF until the end of the season. He replaced former FC Barcelona midfielder Víctor Muñoz,[18] and also managed Adrián, helping the club avoid relegation in the last matchday and renewing his contract for two more years the following week. He was relieved of his duties at the end of 2010–11, with the team again managing to stay afloat after finishing 16th, just one point clear of the relegation zone.[19]
On 19 August 2015, Míchel succeeded Marcelo Bielsa at the helm of Olympique de Marseille.[25] He was sacked the following 19 April due to concerns over his behaviour, with the team ranking 15th in Ligue 1.[26]
On 20 May 2019, Míchel was appointed at Club Universidad Nacional of the Mexican Liga MX.[29] He resigned from office on 23 July 2020, due to personal and family issues.[30]
Míchel returned to Getafe on 27 May 2021, replacing Valencia CF-bound José Bordalás.[31] Having gained just one point from eight games of the season, he was dismissed on 4 October.[32]
On 21 September 2022, Míchel returned to Olympiacos after seven years away, replacing compatriot Carlos Corberán.[33] He resigned on 3 April 2023 following a 2–2 draw with Aris Thessaloniki F.C. despite being 2–0 up 20 minutes from time; he had allegedly lost the confidence of the board of directors and supporters due to his difficulties in handling the pressure of mounting a title challenge.[34]
^G. Calatayud, Antonio (21 November 1985). "0–0: Nos congelamos todos" [0–0: We all froze] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2016.
^G. Parajón, Marcos; Fernández R., Juanje (7 March 2017). "Míchel, nuevo entrenador del Málaga" [Míchel, new Málaga manager]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^"El Málaga se carga a Míchel" [Málaga oust Míchel] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.