Luis Milla
Encyclopedia
Luis Milla Aspas is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current coach.
He represented three teams – including both FC Barcelona
and Real Madrid
– during a 16 year-professional career, where he won three La Liga
titles (one with the former and two with the latter) and amassed totals of 337 games and 11 goals.
, Milla made his first division
debuts in 1984–85, scoring in his only appearance of the campaign, against Real Zaragoza
, as Barça pitched in a team majorly composed of youth players, due to a general professional's strike.
Definitely promoted to the first team in 1988, Milla would be involved two years later in a sour contract renewal dispute with the board of directors and then manager Johan Cruyff
, which eventually finished with his free transfer to Real Madrid
. He was seriously injured in his first season, but bounced to back to be an important first-team element in the conquest of two leagues and one cup
, being fairly used even after the 1994 purchase of Fernando Redondo
.
Milla finished his career after four years at Valencia CF
, in June 2001, with more than 400 official appearances as a professional. During a three-month period beginning in late 1989, he earned himself three caps for the Spanish national team
, the first against Hungary
, in a 1990 FIFA World Cup
qualifier
.
in Getafe CF
. In the ensuing summer, he was named the national under-19
's coach, after Vicente del Bosque
's appointment as the senior manager.
In his first tournament, the 2009 UEFA European championship
, the team did not progress through the group stage. In the 2010 edition
in France
, however, he led Spain to the final, were they were defeated by the hosts
.
Later in the same year, Milla replaced Juan Ramón López Caro at the helm of the under-21 team
. Despite finding a delicate situation upon his arrival, he managed to qualify the national side for the 2011 European championship
, after defeating Croatia
in a two-legged play-off
.
In the final stages in Denmark
, Milla led the Spanish under-21s to their third title, after only conceding two goals in five games (four wins and only one draw).
Real Madrid
Valencia
Spain U20
Spain U19
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 defensive midfielder, and a current coach.
He represented three teams – including both 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....
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...
– during a 16 year-professional career, where he won three 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...
titles (one with the former and two with the latter) and amassed totals of 337 games and 11 goals.
Playing career
After finishing his football formation with FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Milla made his 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...
debuts in 1984–85, scoring in his only appearance of the campaign, against Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, as Barça pitched in a team majorly composed of youth players, due to a general professional's strike.
Definitely promoted to the first team in 1988, Milla would be involved two years later in a sour contract renewal dispute with the board of directors and then manager Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, which eventually finished with his free transfer to 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...
. He was seriously injured in his first season, but bounced to back to be an important first-team element in the conquest of two leagues and one cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, being fairly used even after the 1994 purchase of Fernando Redondo
Fernando Redondo
Fernando Carlos Redondo Neri is a retired Argentine footballer.A defensive midfielder with the ability to contribute both defensively and offensively, he played one full decade in La Liga, mainly for Real Madrid, then finished his career in Italy with Milan.Redondo was a member of the Argentine...
.
Milla finished his career after four years at Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, in June 2001, with more than 400 official appearances as a professional. During a three-month period beginning in late 1989, he earned himself three caps for the Spanish national team
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...
, the first against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, in a 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
qualifier
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup saw 32 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. UEFA members Italy qualified automatically as hosts of the finals. The qualification process started on 21 May 1988 and ended on 18 November 1989.-Format:Teams were drawn into seven...
.
Coaching career
In the 2007–08 season, Milla was first involved in professional coaching, assisting former Barcelona and Madrid teammate Michael LaudrupMichael Laudrup
Michael Laudrup is a retired Danish footballer, who works as a manager and last coached La Liga side RCD Mallorca. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football. His most prominent run of football came with Spanish club Barcelona, with whom he won four straight La...
in Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
. In the ensuing summer, he was named the national under-19
Spain national under-19 football team
The Spain national under-19 football team represents Spain in international football at this age level and is controlled by Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.-UEFA European Under-19 Championship Record:...
's coach, after Vicente del Bosque
Vicente Del Bosque
Vicente del Bosque González, 1st Marquis of Del Bosque is a former Spanish footballer He is currently the manager of the Spanish national football team. After taking over from Luis Aragonés who had led Spain to European success in Euro 2008, Del Bosque went on to manage the national team to the...
's appointment as the senior manager.
In his first tournament, the 2009 UEFA European championship
2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-Top goalscorers:4 goals Nathan Delfouneso3 goals Henri Lansbury Danijel Aleksić Denys Harmash-External links:*...
, the team did not progress through the group stage. In the 2010 edition
2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Daniel Pacheco3 goals Zvonko Pamić Cédric Bakambu Alexandre Lacazette...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, however, he led Spain to the final, were they were defeated by the hosts
France national under-19 football team
The France national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the annual UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. They were the 2010 champions of the competition having won on home soil...
.
Later in the same year, Milla replaced Juan Ramón López Caro at the helm of the under-21 team
Spain 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...
. Despite finding a delicate situation upon his arrival, he managed to qualify the national side for the 2011 European championship
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....
, after defeating Croatia
Croatia national under-21 football team
The Croatia national under-21 football team, also known as Croatia under-21 or Croatia U21 is a youth association football national team which represents Croatia at this age level and is a feeder team for the Croatia national football team....
in a two-legged play-off
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification play-offs
The play-off first legs were played on 8 October 2010, while the second legs were played on 12 October 2010. Winners of play-off round and host nation Denmark will participate in the championship next year.-Matches:...
.
In the final stages in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Milla led the Spanish under-21s to their third title, after only conceding two goals in five games (four wins and only one draw).
Player
Barcelona- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1988–89 - Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1984–85 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1989–90
Real Madrid
- Spanish LeagueLa LigaThe 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...
: 1994–95, 1996–97 - Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1992–931992–93 Copa del ReyThe Copa del Rey 1992-93 is the 89th staging of the Copa del Rey.The competition started on August 28, 1992 and concluded on June 26, 1993 with the Final, held at the Estadio Luis Casanova in Valencia.-1st Round:... - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19901990 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1990 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 5 December and 12 December 1990. It contested by FC Barcelona, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1989–90, and Real Madrid who won the 1989–90 Spanish League. Real Madrid won 5–1 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second...
, 19931993 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1993 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 2 December and 16 December 1993. It contested by ,Real Madrid who were Spanish Cup winners in 1992–93, and FC Barcelona who won the 1992–93 Spanish League. Real Madrid won 4–2 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second...
Valencia
- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 1998–99 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19991999 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1999 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 8 August and 15 August 1999. It contested by Valencia CF, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1998–99, and FC Barcelona, who won the 1998–99 Spanish League.-First leg:-Second leg:... - 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...
: 1998
Manager
Spain U21- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
: 20112011 UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA U-21 Championship 2011 was the 18th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Denmark between 11 and 25 June 2011....
Spain U20
- Mediterranean GamesMediterranean GamesThe Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport games held every four years, mainly for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea, where Europe, Africa and Asia meet. The idea was proposed at the 1948 Summer Olympics by Muhammed Taher Pasha, chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, and they were first...
: 2009Football at the 2009 Mediterranean GamesThe football competition at the 2009 Mediterranean Games took place between June 25 and July 5, 2009 and were contested by 12 teams.-System:The 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three teams. Teams are awarded three points for a win and one for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat....
Spain U19
- UEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-19 Football ChampionshipThe European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
: Runner-up 20102010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Daniel Pacheco3 goals Zvonko Pamić Cédric Bakambu Alexandre Lacazette...