Miguel Ángel Llera
Encyclopedia
Miguel Ángel Llera Garzón (born 7 August 1979 in Castilleja de la Cuesta
, Seville) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Sheffield Wednesday
on loan from Blackpool
in England
, as a central defender.
's youth ranks, Llera represented several modest sides until 2005–06
, when he contributed with 27 matches (scoring three times) to Gimnàstic de Tarragona
's return to the top division
after a 56-year absence. However, midway through the following campaign, he was released from contract, after appearing in 12 games (all starts) for the Catalans
, and scoring in defeats against Real Sociedad
(2–3, away) and Getafe CF
(1–3, home) as Nàstic was eventually immediately relegated back.
In 2007–08, Llera continued in the second level
, but also failed to impress, at Hércules CF
(11 matches out of 42).
, linking up with League One
side in September 2008. He scored twice during his spell with the Dons, against Carlisle United
and Brighton & Hove Albion
.
After a successful season, with a third place straight out of League Two, albeit without eventual promotion, Llera moved to Charlton Athletic
, on 2 July 2009. after turning down a new contract offer; he became the first Spanish footballer to play for the club.
Llera quickly established himself as a fans' favourite after just four games, scoring on his debut against Wycombe Wanderers
, but picking up a head injury which led him to wear a helmet for the next few games, similar to that of Chelsea
's Petr Čech
. On 22 August 2009, he scored his second goal for Charlton, in a 2–0 home win against Walsall
.
After leaving Charlton at the end of the 2010–11 season, Llera spent some time training with Blackpool and joined them on trial, making his debut against Rangers
on 19 July 2011. On 2 August, he scored from a free-kick
against Lancaster City
, in a 1–3 defeat; two days later, he signed a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
On 7 September 2011, Llera signed for Brentford
on a three-month loan deal.
On 22 November 2011, he commenced his second loan spell of the 2011-12 season, at Sheffield Wednesday
on an emergency loan deal, lasting until January 2012.
Castilleja de la Cuesta
Castilleja de la Cuesta is a town and municipality in the province of Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.Hernán Cortés died in this town on December 2, 1547. He is not buried there however, because his remains were returned to Mexico as directed in his will...
, Seville) is a 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 plays for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on loan from Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, as a central defender.
Spain
After unsuccessfully emerging through local Recreativo de HuelvaRecreativo 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...
's youth ranks, Llera represented several modest sides until 2005–06
2005–06 Segunda División
-Classification 2005–06:-Relegated to Segunda División B:* UE Lleida -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 3* Ferrol -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 1* Eibar -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 4...
, when he contributed with 27 matches (scoring three times) to Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Gimnàstic de Tarragona
Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona, usually referred to as Nàstic, is a Spanish sports club based in Tarragona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Its football team currently plays in Segunda División....
's return to the top 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...
after a 56-year absence. However, midway through the following campaign, he was released from contract, after appearing in 12 games (all starts) for 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...
, and scoring in defeats against Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
(2–3, away) and 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....
(1–3, home) as Nàstic was eventually immediately relegated back.
In 2007–08, Llera continued in the second level
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:...
, but also failed to impress, at Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
(11 matches out of 42).
England
Subsequently, Llera took his game to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, linking up with League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side in September 2008. He scored twice during his spell with the Dons, against Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
.
After a successful season, with a third place straight out of League Two, albeit without eventual promotion, Llera moved to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, on 2 July 2009. after turning down a new contract offer; he became the first Spanish footballer to play for the club.
Llera quickly established himself as a fans' favourite after just four games, scoring on his debut against Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, but picking up a head injury which led him to wear a helmet for the next few games, similar to that of Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
's Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
. On 22 August 2009, he scored his second goal for Charlton, in a 2–0 home win against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
.
After leaving Charlton at the end of the 2010–11 season, Llera spent some time training with Blackpool and joined them on trial, making his debut against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
on 19 July 2011. On 2 August, he scored 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:...
against Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
, in a 1–3 defeat; two days later, he signed a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
On 7 September 2011, Llera signed for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on a three-month loan deal.
On 22 November 2011, he commenced his second loan spell of the 2011-12 season, at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on an emergency loan deal, lasting until January 2012.