Manu Fernández

Manuel Fernández Muñiz (born 9 May 1986), commonly known as Manu, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fernández and the second or maternal family name is Muñiz.
Manu
Manu (left) with Machine Sazi in 2016
Personal information
Full name Manuel Fernández Muñiz
Date of birth (1986-05-09) 9 May 1986
Place of birth Gijón, Spain
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Sporting Gijón
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Sporting Gijón B 26 (0)
2005–2007 Sporting Gijón 2 (0)
2007–2009 Deportivo B 44 (0)
2009–2011 Deportivo La Coruña 9 (0)
2011–2012 Recreativo 35 (0)
2012–2014 Alcorcón 43 (0)
2014–2015 Alavés 29 (0)
2015–2016 Deportivo La Coruña 8 (0)
2016–2017 Machine Sazi 16 (0)
2017 Marbella 7 (0)
Total 219 (0)
International career
2002 Spain U16 3 (0)
2002 Spain U17 1 (0)
2004 Spain U19 2 (0)
2005 Spain U20 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Gijón, Asturias, and a product of Mareo, Sporting de Gijón's youth academy, Manu made his professional debut during the 2005–06 season, with the club in the Segunda División. In 2007 he joined Deportivo de La Coruña, spending the better part of his first two years with the reserves.

In the 2009–10 campaign, after Gustavo Munúa's departure to Málaga CF, Manu was promoted to Dani Aranzubia's backup. On 23 March 2010, after the latter was sent off against precisely Sporting Gijón (Depor eventually finished with nine players) at the 10-minute mark, he made his La Liga debut, in a 2–1 away loss.[1]

Due to injury to Aranzubia, Manu started 2010–11's first six games then returned to the bench,[2] appearing in the Copa del Rey as Deportivo were eventually relegated after 20 years. In July he signed with another team in the second division, Recreativo de Huelva,[3] and continued competing at that level the following years, in representation of AD Alcorcón[4] and Deportivo Alavés.[5]

Manu returned to the Estadio Riazor for the 2015–16 season, arriving following injury to habitual starter Fabri.[6] Again, he played second-fiddle, now to Germán Lux.[7]

In the summer of 2016, Manu signed with Iranian club Machine Sazi FC, newly promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, on a one-year contract.[8] He returned to Spain halfway through the campaign, joining Marbella FC from Segunda División B.[9]

Honours

Spain U19

References
  1. "Deportivo's Euro hopes dented". ESPN Soccernet. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  2. ""Palop es una referencia, me encanta su actitud"" ["Palop is a reference, I love his attitude"]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 11 September 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  3. "El Recreativo refuerza su portería con Manu Fernández" [Recreativo bolster goal with Manu Fernández]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 June 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  4. Guillén, V. (13 July 2012). "Manu Fernández y Dorronsoro serán los dos porteros" [Manu Fernández and Dorronsoro will be the two goalkeepers]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  5. "El Alavés ficha al portero Manuel Fernández" [Alavés sign goalkeeper Manuel Fernández]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 July 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. De la Cruz, Luis (23 August 2015). "El Depor refuerza la portería con Manu Fernández" [Depor bolster goal with Manu Fernández]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. Cobas, E. (5 April 2016). "Lux, otro palo en la portería" [Lux, another blow in goal]. La Opinión A Coruña (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  8. "Machine Sazi set to sign Spanish keeper". Tehran Times. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  9. "El Marbella FC ficha al portero Manu, que llega desde la liga de Irán" [Marbella FC sign goalkeeper Manu, who arrives from the Iranian league] (in Spanish). Marbella 24 Horas. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
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