Miquel Soler
Encyclopedia
Miquel Soler Sarasols is a retired Spanish
footballer.
Mainly a left defender who could also operate in midfield
, his career spanned two La Liga
decades (with nearly 700 official matches), and he was the only player to represent both Barcelona
and Madrid
main teams.
Soler represented Spain
at Euro 1988.
youth graduate, Soler made his first team - and La Liga
- debuts in 1983–84, going on to become an essential element after a loan to neighbouring CE L'Hospitalet. In his fourth season, as the club finished third after a second stage for the top six teams, he appeared in 41 out of 42 matches, with two goals. He helped Espanyol reach the final of the 1988
UEFA Cup, scoring a goal in the first leg, a 3–0 home win, as the Catalans
eventually lost on penalties against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Subsequently, Soler joined neighbours FC Barcelona
, helping the side to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
in his first season, while also appearing in 23 matches in the league. After a sole season with Atlético Madrid, where he won his second Spanish Cup
, he returned to Barcelona, with no impact.
After two excellent seasons with Sevilla FC
, Soler moved to Real Madrid
, but appeared scarcely during 1995–96, his sole campaign with the merengues. After two years with Real Zaragoza
, he was still able, at 33, to sign with RCD Mallorca
, where he amassed a further 152 top flight games, winning another domestic cup and retiring at the end of the 2002–03 season, aged 38; he played in a total of 504 first division matches, scoring 12 goals.
for the Spanish national football team
, and represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1988, where he appeared in the win against Denmark
(playing the second half) and the loss against Italy
.
His debut came in an Euro 1988 qualifier in Bucharest
, a 1–3 loss against Romania
.
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.
Mainly a left defender who could also operate in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, his career spanned two 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...
decades (with nearly 700 official matches), and he was the only player to represent both Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
main teams.
Soler represented 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...
at Euro 1988.
Club career
A RCD EspanyolRCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
youth graduate, Soler made his first team - and 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...
- debuts in 1983–84, going on to become an essential element after a loan to neighbouring CE L'Hospitalet. In his fourth season, as the club finished third after a second stage for the top six teams, he appeared in 41 out of 42 matches, with two goals. He helped Espanyol reach the final of the 1988
1988 UEFA Cup Final
The 1988 UEFA Cup Final was a football tie played on May 4, 1988 and May 18, 1988 between RCD Espanyol of Spain and Bayer 04 Leverkusen of West Germany. Leverkusen won 3–2 on penalties after 3-3 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second leg:...
UEFA Cup, scoring a goal in the first leg, a 3–0 home win, as 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...
eventually lost on penalties against Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Subsequently, Soler joined neighbours 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....
, helping the side to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The 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...
in his first season, while also appearing in 23 matches in the league. After a sole season with Atlético Madrid, where he won his second Spanish 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 ....
, he returned to Barcelona, with no impact.
After two excellent seasons with 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...
, Soler moved 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...
, but appeared scarcely during 1995–96, his sole campaign with the merengues. After two years with 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...
, he was still able, at 33, to sign with 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....
, where he amassed a further 152 top flight games, winning another domestic cup and retiring at the end of the 2002–03 season, aged 38; he played in a total of 504 first division matches, scoring 12 goals.
International career
Soler won nine capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Spanish national football 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...
, and represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1988, where he appeared in the win against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
(playing the second half) and the loss against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
.
His debut came in an Euro 1988 qualifier in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, a 1–3 loss against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
.
Honours
- 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; Runner-up 1990–91 - UEFA Super Cup: 1992
- 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...
: 1990–91, 1992–93 - 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 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19921992 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1992 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 28 October and 11 November 1992. It contested by Atlético Madrid, who were Spanish Cup winners in 1991–92, and FC Barcelona, who won the 1991–92 Spanish League. FC Barcelona won 5–2 on aggregate.-First leg:-Second...
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- Atlético Madrid:
- 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 ....
: 1991–92
- Spanish Cup
- Mallorca:
- 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 ....
: 2002–03 - Spanish SupercupSupercopa de EspañaThe Supercopa de España is a Spanish football championship contested by the winners of La Liga and the Copa del Rey...
: 19981998 Supercopa de EspañaThe 1998 Supercopa de España was two-leg Spanish football matches played on 18 August and 22 August 1999. It contested by RCD Mallorca, who were Spanish Cup runner-up in 1997–98, and FC Barcelona, who won the 1997–98 Spanish League.-First leg:-Second leg:... - 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...
: Runner-up 1998–99
- Spanish Cup