Maynor Figueroa
Encyclopedia
Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez (born 2 May 1983 in Jutiapa
, Honduras) is a Honduran
footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Wigan Athletic
.
, Atlántida Department, Figueroa started his career with Victoria
, before moving to Olimpia
in 2003. He later became club captain. In 2007, Figueroa received offers from Major League Soccer
clubs, one of which was revealed to be New England Revolution
, but Olimpia's administrator, Osman Madrid, turned down all the offers. Figueroa has had previous interest from foreign clubs aside from those in the MLS. Club Toluca
of Mexico being one of those making offers during 2007. However, during an interview, Madrid indicated the terms sought by other teams had been neither agreeable nor economically favourable to Olimpia or Figueroa.
, Figueroa would be travelling to England. In January 2008, Figueroa joined Wigan on loan for the rest of the 2007–08 season. In July 2008, after a complicated process involving work permit and visa issues, Figueroa rejoined Wigan on loan for a further six months, after which Wigan had the option to make the deal permanent.
On 23 December 2008, Wigan announced Figueroa had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to join the club permanently. He scored his first goal for Wigan on 11 January 2009. He scored a close range header to secure a late winner against Tottenham Hotspur
. On 12 December 2009, Figueroa scored a goal against Stoke City
from his own half to put Wigan in the lead. Figueroa noticed Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen
off his line at a free kick and struck the ball quickly to send the ball soaring over Sørensen and into the net. Although the match ended 2–2, Figueroa made the headlines the following day, with Alan Hansen
calling it a candidate for Goal of the Season. Indeed, Figueroa's goal was chosen as Match of the Day
's Goal of the Season
for 2009–10. By the end of the 2009–10 campaign, he had made 81 appearances and scored twice in all competitions for Wigan. On 26 February 2011, he made his 100th Premier League appearance, playing the full 90 minutes at left-back in a 4–0 defeat against Manchester United at the DW Stadium.
The 2010-11 campaign proved difficult for Wigan and Figueroa. However he scored a fantastic goal against fellow relegation struggling side Birmingham City F.C.
on 19 March 2011 that led to a 2-1 win for Wigan. On the last day of the season, Wigan needed to win and have results go their way in order to secure Premier League safety. Figueroa provided the breakthrough for the away side in the 78th minute, setting up Hugo Rodallega
to win the game 1-0 at Stoke City and confirm Wigan's safety in the Premier League.
in 2003 and has since gone on to make 76 international appearances, scoring two goals in the process, against Belize
and Cuba
. He was part of the Honduras squad at the 2005
and 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
s. He was also named in the 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa. Figueroa played out of position as a centre back at the World Cup, due to the form of Emilio Izaguirre
. Figueroa also represented Honduras at U-20 and U-23 level from 1999 to 2003 and 2001 to 2003 respectively, scoring once in 3 games for the U-20s and failing to score in eight outings with the U-23 side.
ability, as well as his corner
and free kick
taking.
player who is also an international with the Honduras women's national handball team or Federación Hondureña de Balonmano (FEHBALM).
Jutiapa
Jutiapa is a municipality in the Jutiapa department of Guatemala. Located 124 km from the city of Guatemala at an altitude of 892 m , it is the capital of the department of Jutiapa....
, Honduras) is a Honduran
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
Club career
Born in JutiapaJutiapa, Atlántida
Jutiapa is a municipality in the Honduran department of Atlántida....
, Atlántida Department, Figueroa started his career with Victoria
Club Deportivo Victoria
This article is about Honduran club, for the Spanish club see CD Victoria.Club Deportivo Victoria is an Honduran football club based in La Ceiba, Atlántida. The club has been champions once and runners-up once.-History:...
, before moving to Olimpia
Club Deportivo Olimpia
Club Deportivo Olimpia is a Honduran football and baseball club based in Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazán. They compete in the Liga Nacional de Honduras, the top division in the country, and play their home matches in the Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino...
in 2003. He later became club captain. In 2007, Figueroa received offers from Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
clubs, one of which was revealed to be New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, but Olimpia's administrator, Osman Madrid, turned down all the offers. Figueroa has had previous interest from foreign clubs aside from those in the MLS. Club Toluca
Club Toluca
Deportivo Toluca Fútbol Club is a Mexican professional football club. Toluca's stadium Nemesio Diez Riega is located in Toluca, State of Mexico in Mexico. Toluca plays in the Primera División de México and has been champion ten times...
of Mexico being one of those making offers during 2007. However, during an interview, Madrid indicated the terms sought by other teams had been neither agreeable nor economically favourable to Olimpia or Figueroa.
Wigan Athletic
On 20 December 2007, Honduran newspaper El Heraldo reported that, as a result of interest expressed by the Premier League club Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, Figueroa would be travelling to England. In January 2008, Figueroa joined Wigan on loan for the rest of the 2007–08 season. In July 2008, after a complicated process involving work permit and visa issues, Figueroa rejoined Wigan on loan for a further six months, after which Wigan had the option to make the deal permanent.
On 23 December 2008, Wigan announced Figueroa had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to join the club permanently. He scored his first goal for Wigan on 11 January 2009. He scored a close range header to secure a late winner against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. On 12 December 2009, Figueroa scored a goal against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
from his own half to put Wigan in the lead. Figueroa noticed Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, who plays for Premier League club Stoke City. He has previously represented Premiership teams Sunderland and Aston Villa....
off his line at a free kick and struck the ball quickly to send the ball soaring over Sørensen and into the net. Although the match ended 2–2, Figueroa made the headlines the following day, with Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
calling it a candidate for Goal of the Season. Indeed, Figueroa's goal was chosen as Match of the Day
Match of the Day
Match of the Day is the BBC's main football television programme. Typically, it is shown on BBC One on Saturday evenings during the English football season, showing highlights of the day's matches in English football's top division, the Premier League...
's Goal of the Season
Goal of the Season
In English football, the Goal of the Season is an annual competition and award given on BBC's Match of the Day, in honour of the most spectacular goal scored that season...
for 2009–10. By the end of the 2009–10 campaign, he had made 81 appearances and scored twice in all competitions for Wigan. On 26 February 2011, he made his 100th Premier League appearance, playing the full 90 minutes at left-back in a 4–0 defeat against Manchester United at the DW Stadium.
The 2010-11 campaign proved difficult for Wigan and Figueroa. However he scored a fantastic goal against fellow relegation struggling side Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 19 March 2011 that led to a 2-1 win for Wigan. On the last day of the season, Wigan needed to win and have results go their way in order to secure Premier League safety. Figueroa provided the breakthrough for the away side in the 78th minute, setting up Hugo Rodallega
Hugo Rodallega
Hugo Rodallega Martínez is a Colombian footballer who plays for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic. He primarily plays as a striker, but can also play on the wing....
to win the game 1-0 at Stoke City and confirm Wigan's safety in the Premier League.
International career
Figueroa made his debut for HondurasHonduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
in 2003 and has since gone on to make 76 international appearances, scoring two goals in the process, against Belize
Belize national football team
The Belize national football team is the national team of Belize and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belize. It is affiliated to the Central American Football Union of CONCACAF...
and Cuba
Cuba national football team
The Cuba national football team is the national team of Cuba and is controlled by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF....
. He was part of the Honduras squad at the 2005
2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the eighth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested in the United States in July 2005. The United States emerged victorious in the final against an upstart Panama team led by tournament...
and 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
s. He was also named in the 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa. Figueroa played out of position as a centre back at the World Cup, due to the form of Emilio Izaguirre
Emilio Izaguirre
Emilio Arturo Izaguirre Girón is a Honduran footballer who plays as a left back for Scottish Premier League side Celtic and the Honduras national team. He has represented his country at the 2010 World Cup and the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup....
. Figueroa also represented Honduras at U-20 and U-23 level from 1999 to 2003 and 2001 to 2003 respectively, scoring once in 3 games for the U-20s and failing to score in eight outings with the U-23 side.
Style of play
He is mostly known for his accurate left foot, powerful shot and long throw-inThrow-in
A throw-in is a method of restarting play in a game of Association football.-Procedure:The throw-in is taken from the point where the ball crossed the touch-line. The throw-in is taken by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when it crossed the touch-line, either on the ground or...
ability, as well as his corner
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
and free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
taking.
Personal life
Figueroa is married to Sandra Norales, a handballTeam handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
player who is also an international with the Honduras women's national handball team or Federación Hondureña de Balonmano (FEHBALM).