Manuel Almunia
Encyclopedia
Manuel Almunia Rivero (born 19 May 1977) is a professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal
.
, Navarre
, Almunia started his senior career with Osasuna
's reserve team in 1997, playing two seasons with the team in Segunda División B
. He went on to spend two more seasons in the category, with Cartagena
and Sabadell, joining the top flight
in 2001–02, with Real Club Celta de Vigo.
However, shortly after joining Celta, Almunia was loaned out to Segunda División
side Eibar
, where he spent 2001–02 as first-choice goalkeeper. During the 2002–03 season, Celta loaned him out to first-division club Recreativo de Huelva
, where he played understudy to José Antonio Luque
and César, only making two league appearances. Almunia's début in the first division came on 17 November 2002, following a
red card to the latter, in a 0–3 defeat at Deportivo Alavés
.
He then returned to Celta, being loaned for the third and final time, now to Albacete Balompié
on 1 November 2003. He made his club début the following week, in a 1–0 loss at Málaga
. Almunia achieved first-choice status, making a total of 24 league appearances until the end of the season, while helping Albacete finish 14th.
on 14 July 2004 for an undisclosed sum. He was the second choice behind Jens Lehmann
but found himself thrust into the spotlight in 2006 when he replaced Robert Pires
in the 20th minute of the Champions' League Final against Barcelona following the sending-off of Lehmann
. Despite a sterling performance between the sticks Arsenal lost 2-1. The following season Almunia played in the League Cup Final. He and Lehmann competed for the goalkeeping position and were by all accounts rivals off the pitch as well. In an interview with German television in October 2007, speaking about Wenger's decision to drop him in favour of Almunia, Lehmann said, “It’s possible that some day I’ll feel like talking about the whole issue. But at the moment I’m just swallowing it all as part of the humiliation. But I think – and this is aimed at my dear manager – one shouldn’t humiliate players for too long. I won’t just fade away quietly. Almunia has not yet showed he can win matches for us. I’ve experienced this before and know what the others are expecting from the goalkeeper.” Five months later, in April 2008, Almunia responded, “I treat people the way I would like to be treated myself. To have someone here who hates me is just amazing. Every morning I wake up I know it is going to be the same. But I don’t care any more. I come into training and work with Lukasz Fabianski
and Vito Mannone
. They are better than him anyway.”
Almunia broke out of Lehmann's shadow in the 2007-2008 season when he finally displaced the German. He was given the number one shirt after Lehmann left for Stuttgart
at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. In 2008, Almunia signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.
Despite being the first-choice goalie and often team captain, Almunia's performances often frustrated Arsenal's fans. He veered between brilliant - the 2008/2009 Champions League semi-final first leg match against Manchester United, and the 2009/2010 Champions League quarter final first leg against Barcelona - so much so that speculation surfaced that he might play for England - and very poor (see 2010-2011 season below) with the result that rumours arose that he would be sold.
Arsenal
manager Arsène Wenger
publicly stated that he was looking to improve the defensive line up of the first eleven which exacerbated public speculation that Almunia would be sold. However, he did save a penalty against West Ham
in a 3–0 victory and kept a clean sheet against Hull City
in a 3–0 victory. Over the entire season he kept ten clean sheets.
on 25 September, conceding a penalty (which he saved), letting a tame shot slip through the near post, and being caught out of position for the third. Almunia lost his place through injury and was subsequently kept out of goal by Arsenal's second and third choice keepers, the Polish goalkeeping duo of Łukasz Fabiański and Wojciech Szczęsny
.
Almunia made a return to the team on 30 January 2011 against Huddersfield
in the FA Cup
and went on to play both games in the next round against Leyton Orient. On 8 March 2011, he came on as a 19th-minute substitute for the injured Szczęsny against Barcelona
in the Champions League last-16 stage and made a series of fine saves as Arsenal lost 3–1 to exit the tournament 4–3 on aggregate. He was voted the Man of the Match by fans on the club's official website. With Szczęsny out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a dislocated finger, and with Fabianski out with a shoulder injury, and with Mannone out with injury, Almunia again became Arsenal's first-choice keeper. On 19 March, during a 2–2 draw at West Brom, Almunia was caught out of position along with Sébastien Squillaci
, gifting the home side their second goal. Former Arsenal number 1 Jens Lehmann
had returned to the club as backup to Almunia. Almunia's woes continued when he injured his knee during the warm-up in the Premier League match away to Blackpool on 10 April 2011. Almunia had to watch the match from the bench as Jens Lehmann
took over in goal in the match that Arsenal won 3–1. Szczęsny then returned from injury and Lehmann was again backup which left Almunia as third goalkeeper who did not feature again for the rest of the 2010–11 campaign.
and Łukasz Fabiański. Almunia was not even on the bench for the Gunners' Carling Cup match on 20 September 2011 against Shrewsbury Town (which Arsenal won 3–1), the reserve goalie's jersey being given to 19-year-old Argentine Damian Martinez who has yet to make a first team appearance in any competitions for Arsenal.
's Robert Green
was ruled out for six weeks with a knee cartilage injury. Almunia made his debut for the Hammers on 1 October 2011 in a 2–2 draw away to Crystal Palace. At the end of October 2011 after four games for West Ham and with the return to fitness of Robert Green, Almunia returned to Arsenal.
Apps – Appearances; C.S. – Clean sheets.
, only provided that he did not receive a call-up from the Euro 2008-winning Spain
first. He was not called up to Spain's
national team for Euro 2008 so the option of playing for England is still available. He qualifies because he holds both Spanish and British Citizenship having lived and worked in England for more than five years.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
Early career
Born in PamplonaPamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Almunia started his senior career with Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
's reserve team in 1997, playing two seasons with the team in Segunda División B
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...
. He went on to spend two more seasons in the category, with Cartagena
FC Cartagena
Fútbol Club Cartagena is a Spanish football team based in Cartagena, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 1995, it currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Cartagonova, with a capacity of 15,105 spectators....
and Sabadell, joining the top flight
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...
in 2001–02, with Real Club Celta de Vigo.
However, shortly after joining Celta, Almunia was loaned out to Segunda División
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:...
side Eibar
SD Eibar
Sociedad Deportiva Eibar, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team from Eibar, Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded on 30 November 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B....
, where he spent 2001–02 as first-choice goalkeeper. During the 2002–03 season, Celta loaned him out to first-division club Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
, where he played understudy to José Antonio Luque
José Antonio Luque Ramírez
José Antonio Luque Ramírez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
and César, only making two league appearances. Almunia's début in the first division came on 17 November 2002, following a
red card to the latter, in a 0–3 defeat at Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
.
He then returned to Celta, being loaned for the third and final time, now to Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
on 1 November 2003. He made his club début the following week, in a 1–0 loss at 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...
. Almunia achieved first-choice status, making a total of 24 league appearances until the end of the season, while helping Albacete finish 14th.
Arsenal
Almunia joined ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
on 14 July 2004 for an undisclosed sum. He was the second choice behind Jens Lehmann
Jens Lehmann
Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles, playing every match of their famous unbeaten title winning...
but found himself thrust into the spotlight in 2006 when he replaced Robert Pires
Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès is a former French international footballer. He is perhaps best known for his time with Arsenal, with whom he won three FA Cups and two FA Premier League titles including the club's famous unbeaten season of 2003–04...
in the 20th minute of the Champions' League Final against Barcelona following the sending-off of Lehmann
Jens Lehmann
Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles, playing every match of their famous unbeaten title winning...
. Despite a sterling performance between the sticks Arsenal lost 2-1. The following season Almunia played in the League Cup Final. He and Lehmann competed for the goalkeeping position and were by all accounts rivals off the pitch as well. In an interview with German television in October 2007, speaking about Wenger's decision to drop him in favour of Almunia, Lehmann said, “It’s possible that some day I’ll feel like talking about the whole issue. But at the moment I’m just swallowing it all as part of the humiliation. But I think – and this is aimed at my dear manager – one shouldn’t humiliate players for too long. I won’t just fade away quietly. Almunia has not yet showed he can win matches for us. I’ve experienced this before and know what the others are expecting from the goalkeeper.” Five months later, in April 2008, Almunia responded, “I treat people the way I would like to be treated myself. To have someone here who hates me is just amazing. Every morning I wake up I know it is going to be the same. But I don’t care any more. I come into training and work with Lukasz Fabianski
Lukasz Fabianski
Łukasz Fabiański is a Polish footballer who plays for English Premier League side Arsenal and the Polish national team as a goalkeeper.-Early career:...
and Vito Mannone
Vito Mannone
Vito Mannone is an Italian footballer who plays for Arsenal, as a goalkeeper and is a 'homegrown' player in Arsenal's official . He has made 9 appearances for Arsenal, the most notable of which was his Man of the Match display against Fulham in the 2009/2010 season that earned his side all 3...
. They are better than him anyway.”
Almunia broke out of Lehmann's shadow in the 2007-2008 season when he finally displaced the German. He was given the number one shirt after Lehmann left for Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. In 2008, Almunia signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.
Despite being the first-choice goalie and often team captain, Almunia's performances often frustrated Arsenal's fans. He veered between brilliant - the 2008/2009 Champions League semi-final first leg match against Manchester United, and the 2009/2010 Champions League quarter final first leg against Barcelona - so much so that speculation surfaced that he might play for England - and very poor (see 2010-2011 season below) with the result that rumours arose that he would be sold.
Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
manager Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
publicly stated that he was looking to improve the defensive line up of the first eleven which exacerbated public speculation that Almunia would be sold. However, he did save a penalty against West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in a 3–0 victory and kept a clean sheet against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in a 3–0 victory. Over the entire season he kept ten clean sheets.
2010–2011 season
Despite speculation that Almunia would be sold, he started the season as the first-choice goalkeeper. However he was criticised for his performance against West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 25 September, conceding a penalty (which he saved), letting a tame shot slip through the near post, and being caught out of position for the third. Almunia lost his place through injury and was subsequently kept out of goal by Arsenal's second and third choice keepers, the Polish goalkeeping duo of Łukasz Fabiański and Wojciech Szczęsny
Wojciech Szczęsny
Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal and the Poland national football team. He is the son of former Polish goalkeeper Maciej Szczęsny....
.
Almunia made a return to the team on 30 January 2011 against Huddersfield
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
and went on to play both games in the next round against Leyton Orient. On 8 March 2011, he came on as a 19th-minute substitute for the injured Szczęsny against Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in the Champions League last-16 stage and made a series of fine saves as Arsenal lost 3–1 to exit the tournament 4–3 on aggregate. He was voted the Man of the Match by fans on the club's official website. With Szczęsny out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a dislocated finger, and with Fabianski out with a shoulder injury, and with Mannone out with injury, Almunia again became Arsenal's first-choice keeper. On 19 March, during a 2–2 draw at West Brom, Almunia was caught out of position along with Sébastien Squillaci
Sébastien Squillaci
Sébastien Squillaci is a French international footballer who plays for Arsenal. He plays as a central defender and is described as a player who "reads the game well" and is "strong in the air and on the ground"...
, gifting the home side their second goal. Former Arsenal number 1 Jens Lehmann
Jens Lehmann
Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles, playing every match of their famous unbeaten title winning...
had returned to the club as backup to Almunia. Almunia's woes continued when he injured his knee during the warm-up in the Premier League match away to Blackpool on 10 April 2011. Almunia had to watch the match from the bench as Jens Lehmann
Jens Lehmann
Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup squads. He was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles, playing every match of their famous unbeaten title winning...
took over in goal in the match that Arsenal won 3–1. Szczęsny then returned from injury and Lehmann was again backup which left Almunia as third goalkeeper who did not feature again for the rest of the 2010–11 campaign.
2011–2012 season
Almunia began the season out of favour with manager Wenger preferring Wojciech SzczęsnyWojciech Szczęsny
Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal and the Poland national football team. He is the son of former Polish goalkeeper Maciej Szczęsny....
and Łukasz Fabiański. Almunia was not even on the bench for the Gunners' Carling Cup match on 20 September 2011 against Shrewsbury Town (which Arsenal won 3–1), the reserve goalie's jersey being given to 19-year-old Argentine Damian Martinez who has yet to make a first team appearance in any competitions for Arsenal.
West Ham United
On 30 September 2011, Almunia signed an initial one-month emergency loan deal after West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
's Robert Green
Robert Green
Robert Paul Green is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United and the England national football team as a goalkeeper.-Norwich City:...
was ruled out for six weeks with a knee cartilage injury. Almunia made his debut for the Hammers on 1 October 2011 in a 2–2 draw away to Crystal Palace. At the end of October 2011 after four games for West Ham and with the return to fitness of Robert Green, Almunia returned to Arsenal.
Club
- Statistics accurate as of 29 September 2011
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total Apps C.S. Apps C.S. Apps C.S. Apps C.S. Apps C.S. Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...2004–05 10 5 2 0 3 0 1 0 16 5 2005–06 0 0 2 0 5 2 6 1 13 3 2006–07 1 1 4 0 6 2 2 1 13 4 2007–08 30 9 0 0 0 0 9 5 39 14 2008–09 32 10 0 0 0 0 12 5 44 15 2009–10 29 9 0 0 0 0 5 2 34 11 2010–11 2010–11 Premier LeagueThe 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011...8 0 4 1 0 0 2 0 14 1 2011–12 2011–12 Premier LeagueThe 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Arsenal total 110 34 12 1 14 4 37 14 173 53 West Ham United (loan) West Ham United F.C.West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...2011–12 Football League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 Career total 113 36 12 1 14 4 37 14 178 55
Apps – Appearances; C.S. – Clean sheets.
International career
Almunia has not played international football. He has stated on more than one occasion his wish to play for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, only provided that he did not receive a call-up from the Euro 2008-winning Spain
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...
first. He was not called up to Spain's
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...
national team for Euro 2008 so the option of playing for England is still available. He qualifies because he holds both Spanish and British Citizenship having lived and worked in England for more than five years.
Winner
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 2005 - FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
: 20042004 FA Community ShieldThe 2004 FA Community Shield was the 82nd FA Community Shield, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions...
External links
- Arsenal.com profile
- FootballDatabase profile and stats
- Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net
- Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional