Manuel Zúñiga
Encyclopedia
Manuel Zúñiga Fernández (born 29 June 1960 in Luciana, Ciudad Real
) is a retired Spanish
footballer, who played as a right midfielder
.
, in the third category
, Zúñiga moved in 1979 for RCD Español
, being immediately cast in the side's rotation, at just 19.
After only three matches in his second season, which also included a loan to Cádiz CF
, he went on to average more 30 league
matches per season in the following years, including 43 - with two goals - in 1986–87, as the Catalans
qualified for the UEFA Europa League
; in the subsequent continental competition, he helped the club reach the final
, but missed his penalty
in the shootout, in an eventual loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
In the following three years, Zúñiga played for Sevilla FC
, where he still was regularly used. After 1991–92 spent with CE Sabadell FC, in the second division
, he moved to Écija Balompié
, helping it promote to level two in 1995, and partnering Real Betis
and Real Madrid
legend Rafael Gordillo
in his last season, 1995–96.
, Zúñiga never gained however a single senior
cap
; he did represent the nation at the 1980 Summer Olympics
.
Luciana, Ciudad Real
Luciana is a small village and municipality in the province of Ciudad Real , near the confluence of the Bullaque and Guadiana Rivers.-See also:*List of municipalities in Ciudad Real...
) is a retired Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer, who played as a right midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Club career
After starting professionally with lowly CD Calvo SoteloUD Puertollano
Club Deportivo Puertollano is a Spanish football team based in Puertollano, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded in 1948, it plays in Segunda División B – Group 4, holding home matches at Estadio Ciudad de Puertollano, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-History:Club Deportivo...
, in the third category
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, Zúñiga moved in 1979 for RCD Español
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, being immediately cast in the side's rotation, at just 19.
After only three matches in his second season, which also included a loan to Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
, he went on to average more 30 league
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
matches per season in the following years, including 43 - with two goals - in 1986–87, as the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
qualified for the UEFA Europa League
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
; in the subsequent continental competition, he helped the club reach the final
1988 UEFA Cup Final
The 1988 UEFA Cup Final was a football tie played on May 4, 1988 and May 18, 1988 between RCD Espanyol of Spain and Bayer 04 Leverkusen of West Germany. Leverkusen won 3–2 on penalties after 3-3 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second leg:...
, but missed his penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the shootout, in an eventual loss to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
In the following three years, Zúñiga played for Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, where he still was regularly used. After 1991–92 spent with CE Sabadell FC, in the second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, he moved to Écija Balompié
Écija Balompié
Écija Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Écija, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1968, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4.-Season to season:----*2 seasons in Segunda División...
, helping it promote to level two in 1995, and partnering Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
and Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
legend Rafael Gordillo
Rafael Gordillo
Rafael Gordillo Vázquez is a retired Spanish footballer.A tremendously offensive left wingback, equally at ease as defender and midfielder and with a good effort rate, he had an unmistakable style of playing with his socks down, he represented with individual and team success Betis and Real...
in his last season, 1995–96.
International career
A longtime Spanish U21 internationalSpain national under-21 football team
The Spain national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of Spain and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The team, nicknamed La Rojita , competes in the biannual European Under-21 Football Championship.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth...
, Zúñiga never gained however a single senior
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
; he did represent the nation at the 1980 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics
thumb|right|Official Programme of the match [[USSR]] vs [[Venezuela]]The football tournament at the 1980 Summer Olympics started on July 20 and ended on August 2. Only one event, the men's tournament, was contested...
.