Gustavo Munúa
Encyclopedia
Gustavo Adolfo Munúa Vera (born 27 January 1978) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays for Levante UD
in the Spanish first division
, as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his professional career in Spain
, namely at Deportivo de La Coruña
, where he could never impose himself.
, Munúa started his career at local Club Nacional de Football
, where he won four Uruguyan league titles in a row. In Nacional, he established the record for the longest time without conceding a goal at 963 minutes, and also held the record of being the first goalkeeper to score in Uruguayan football, when he netted from a free-kick
in a league win against Central Español
. He also scored some goals from penalties
, both in the league and the Libertadores Cup.
Munúa left Nacional in 2003, joining La Liga
side Deportivo de La Coruña
on a six year-link, where he struggled to gain first-choice goalkeeper status: from 2003–06, he was topped by Spanish international
José Francisco Molina
. Subsequently, he faced stiff competition from Israel
's Dudu Aouate
.
In January 2008, after regaining first-choice from Aouate, both goalkeepers were involved in a post-training punching session that resulted in both being suspended for the match against Villarreal CF
, as well as subsequent league games. In February, due to B-team
keeper Fabri
's inexperience, both players were reinstated in the squad, although the Israeli regained his lost spot.
After having started the following campaign, as Aouate, deemed surplus to requirements, Munúa eventually returned to back-up status, as Aouate was sold to RCD Mallorca
and Fabri returned to the reserves. On 25 January 2009, to due the forced absence of new first-choice Daniel Aranzubia
(sent off
the previous week against FC Barcelona
), he returned to first team action, in a 0–1 loss at Real Madrid
(his only appearance in the campaign).
On 28 June 2009, Munúa signed a one-year contract with Málaga CF
. At his new club he was an instant first-choice, appearing in all the league games in his debut season
, as the Andalusia
ns barely avoided relegation (17th position).
After only one season, Munúa rejected a new contract offer and was released by the club, on 26 May 2010. On August 6, he signed with Levante UD
, returned to the top level
after two years. He made his official debut on 28 August, in a 1–4 home defeat against Sevilla FC
.
aged 20, in a friendly match against Chile
on 24 May 1998. As a backup, he would represent the nation at the 2001 Copa América and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
.
|1997||rowspan="7"|Nacional
||rowspan="7"|Uruguayan League||1||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||1||0
|-
|1998||11||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||11||0
|-
|1999||11||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||11||0
|-
|2000||0||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||0||0
|-
|2001||27||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||27||0
|-
|2002||33||1||–||–||–||–||?||?||33||1
|-
|2003||19||2||–||–||–||–||?||?||19||2
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="6"|Deportivo
||rowspan="8"|Spanish League
||5||0||4||0||–||–||1||0||10||0
|-
|2004–05
||16||0||2||0||–||–||2||0||20||0
|-
|2005–06
||0||0||0||0||–||–||0||0||0||0
|-
|2006–07||0||0||6||0||–||–||–||–||6||0
|-
|2007–08||4||0||2||0||–||–||–||–||6||0
|-
|2008–09||1||0||0||0||–||–||0||0||1||0
|-
|2009–10
||Málaga
||38||0||0||0||–||–||–||–||38||0
|-
|2010–11
||Levante
||20||0||4||0||–||–||–||–||24||0
102||3||–||–||–||–||?||?||102||3
84||0||18||0||–||–||3||0||105||0
186||3||18||0||–||–||3||0||207||3
Deportivo
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who plays for Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
in the Spanish first division
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...
, as a goalkeeper.
He spent most of his professional career in Spain
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...
, namely at Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, where he could never impose himself.
Club career
Born in MontevideoMontevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Munúa started his career at local Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
, where he won four Uruguyan league titles in a row. In Nacional, he established the record for the longest time without conceding a goal at 963 minutes, and also held the record of being the first goalkeeper to score in Uruguayan football, when he netted from a 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:...
in a league win against Central Español
Central Español
Central Español Fútbol Club, usually known simply as Central Español is a Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo.- The F.U.F era :Together with Peñarol, Central founded F.U.F in 1923 after being expelled from A.U.F...
. He also scored some goals from penalties
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...
, both in the league and the Libertadores Cup.
Munúa left Nacional in 2003, joining La Liga
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...
side Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
on a six year-link, where he struggled to gain first-choice goalkeeper status: from 2003–06, he was topped by Spanish international
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...
José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina
José Francisco Molina Jiménez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.11 years of his extensive professional career were spent at Atlético Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña, where he won a total of five titles combined...
. Subsequently, he faced stiff competition from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's Dudu Aouate
Dudu Aouate
David "Dudu" Aouate is an Israeli footballer who plays for RCD Mallorca in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Aouate began his career at Maccabi Haifa F.C. at youth level, as an understudy to Nir Davidovich...
.
In January 2008, after regaining first-choice from Aouate, both goalkeepers were involved in a post-training punching session that resulted in both being suspended for the match against Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
, as well as subsequent league games. In February, due to B-team
Deportivo de La Coruña B
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña B, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in A Coruña, in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the reserve team of Deportivo de La Coruña....
keeper Fabri
Fabricio Agosto Ramírez
Fabricio Agosto Ramírez , Fabricio or Fabri for short, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Betis as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
's inexperience, both players were reinstated in the squad, although the Israeli regained his lost spot.
After having started the following campaign, as Aouate, deemed surplus to requirements, Munúa eventually returned to back-up status, as Aouate was sold to RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
and Fabri returned to the reserves. On 25 January 2009, to due the forced absence of new first-choice Daniel Aranzubia
Daniel Aranzubia
Daniel Aranzubia Aguado is a Spanish footballer who plays for Deportivo de La Coruña in Segunda División, as a goalkeeper.-Athletic Bilbao:...
(sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
the previous week against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
), he returned to first team action, in a 0–1 loss at 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...
(his only appearance in the campaign).
On 28 June 2009, Munúa signed a one-year contract with Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
. At his new club he was an instant first-choice, appearing in all the league games in his debut season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, as the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns barely avoided relegation (17th position).
After only one season, Munúa rejected a new contract offer and was released by the club, on 26 May 2010. On August 6, he signed with Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, returned to the top level
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
after two years. He made his official debut on 28 August, in a 1–4 home defeat against 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...
.
International career
Munúa made his debut for UruguayUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
aged 20, in a friendly match against Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
on 24 May 1998. As a backup, he would represent the nation at the 2001 Copa América and the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
.
Club statistics
|-|1997||rowspan="7"|Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
||rowspan="7"|Uruguayan League||1||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||1||0
|-
|1998||11||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||11||0
|-
|1999||11||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||11||0
|-
|2000||0||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||0||0
|-
|2001||27||0||–||–||–||–||?||?||27||0
|-
|2002||33||1||–||–||–||–||?||?||33||1
|-
|2003||19||2||–||–||–||–||?||?||19||2
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="6"|Deportivo
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
||rowspan="8"|Spanish 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...
||5||0||4||0||–||–||1||0||10||0
|-
|2004–05
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
||16||0||2||0||–||–||2||0||20||0
|-
|2005–06
2005–06 La Liga
* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Betis* Cádiz CF* Celta de Vigo* Deportivo Alaves* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Málaga CF* RCD Mallorca* CA Osasuna* Racing de Santander* Real Madrid* Real Sociedad* Sevilla FC...
||0||0||0||0||–||–||0||0||0||0
|-
|2006–07||0||0||6||0||–||–||–||–||6||0
|-
|2007–08||4||0||2||0||–||–||–||–||6||0
|-
|2008–09||1||0||0||0||–||–||0||0||1||0
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
||Málaga
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
||38||0||0||0||–||–||–||–||38||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
||Levante
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
||20||0||4||0||–||–||–||–||24||0
102||3||–||–||–||–||?||?||102||3
84||0||18||0||–||–||3||0||105||0
186||3||18||0||–||–||3||0||207||3
Club
Nacional- Uruguayan League: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002
Deportivo
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2008