Miguel Ángel Nadal

Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɣel ˈaŋxel naˈðal oˈmaɾ], Catalan: Miquel Àngel Nadal Homar; born 28 July 1966) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a versatile defender and midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Nadal and the second or maternal family name is Homar.

Miguel Ángel Nadal
Nadal in 2016
Personal information
Full name Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar[1]
Date of birth (1966-07-28) 28 July 1966[1]
Place of birth Manacor, Spain[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Youth career
1980–1983 Manacor
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1986 Manacor 61 (13)
1986–1987 Mallorca B 20 (1)
1987–1991 Mallorca 130 (22)
1991–1999 Barcelona 208 (13)
1999–2005 Mallorca 155 (6)
Total 574 (55)
International career
1991–2002 Spain 62 (3)
2002 Balearic Islands 1 (0)
Managerial career
2010–2011 Mallorca (assistant)
2011 Mallorca (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He began and ended his career with Mallorca, but his greatest achievements came whilst at Barcelona during the so-called Dream Team era, winning numerous domestic and continental titles. Over 19 professional seasons, he played 493 matches (463 of those in La Liga).

A very important part of Spain's setup during the 1990s and early 2000s, Nadal represented the nation in three World Cups and at Euro 1996.

Club career

Born in Manacor, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Nadal made his debut in La Liga with local RCD Mallorca, first appearing on 19 April 1987 against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou. In his final two seasons, after helping in a 1989 promotion from the Segunda División, he scored 12 goals from 72 league appearances, thus being acquired by the Catalonia club for the 1991–92 campaign.[2]

With Barça, under Johan Cruyff, Nadal was a very important part in the conquest of five leagues, two Copa del Rey and the 1992 European Cup, playing over 300 overall games and occupying several defensive positions in both the back-four and in midfield. In his last year, however, ostracised by another Dutch coach, Louis van Gaal, he only appeared in two matches; in 1996 and 1997 he was linked with a transfer to Manchester United, but the move to the Premier League never materialised.[3]

Nadal returned to Mallorca subsequently, starting most of the time and also being important in the 2003 domestic cup conquest.[4] He retired at almost 39, having appeared in nearly 700 competitive games.[5]

In July 2010, five years after his retirement, Nadal returned to Mallorca, joining the coaching staff under Michael Laudrup, his Barcelona teammate during three seasons. As the Dane left the club in late September 2011 following a run-in with director Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, Nadal was in charge for one game, a 2–2 away draw against CA Osasuna, but he too left the following week.[6]

International career

Nadal earned 62 caps for Spain, his debut coming on 13 November 1991 in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier dead rubber against Czechoslovakia (the national team had virtually no chances of reaching the finals in Sweden).[7] He went on to appear with the country in three FIFA World Cups.

Additionally, Nadal missed a penalty at Wembley Stadium against England, in a Euro 1996 shootout loss.[8] After appearing in four complete matches at the 2002 World Cup, at almost 36, he retired from the international scene.[9]

Nadal also featured once for the Balearic Islands regional team, in a friendly with Malta held at Son Moix.[10]

International goals
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nadal goal.
List of international goals scored by Miguel Ángel Nadal
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[9]
116 November 1994Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain Denmark1–03–0Euro 1996 qualifying
230 November 1994La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain Finland1–02–0Friendly
35 September 2001Rheinpark, Vaduz, Liechtenstein Liechtenstein2–02–02002 World Cup qualification

Style of play

Nicknamed The Beast,[3] Nadal based his game on physical display. He was also known for his strong aerial game and tactical sense.[11]

In 2007, The Times placed Nadal at number 47 in their list of the 50 hardest footballers in history.[12]

Personal life

Nadal is the paternal uncle of professional tennis player Rafael Nadal, whilst his brother Toni was Rafael's coach.[13][14][15]

Honours

Barcelona

Mallorca

See also

References
  1. "Miguel Angel NADAL Homar". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  2. Busquets, Damià (18 February 2009). "Jugadores de ayer y de hoy: Miguel Ángel Nadal" [Players from tomorrow and today: Miguel Ángel Nadal] (in Spanish). RCDM. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  3. "The beauty of the beast". The Guardian. 11 September 2001. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  4. Miguelez, José (29 June 2003). "Eto'o pone Mallorca a brindar" [Eto'o has Mallorca toasting]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. "Miguel Angel Nadal anunció este viernes su retirada" [Miguel Angel Nadal announced retirement this Friday] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  6. "Miguel Ángel Nadal hace oficial su marcha del Mallorca" [Miguel Ángel Nadal makes departure from Mallorca official]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 October 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  7. Román, Rogelio (14 November 1991). "España, de penalty y regalado" [Spain, from a gifted penalty]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. "Hosts England first team into last four". UEFA. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar – International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  10. Aguiló, Àngel (29 December 2002). "0–2: Baleares cae ante Malta" [0–2: Balearic Islands fall to Malta] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  11. "Control on the ground and in the air". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. "Top 50 hardest footballers". Empire. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 19 October 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  13. Menéndez, Manu (17 July 2005). "Rafa Nadal también golea" [Rafa Nadal also scores]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  14. "Miquel Ángel Nadal dice que la derrota "ha dignificado a Rafa"" [Miquel Ángel Nadal says defeat "has dignified Rafa"]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). 13 September 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. "Rafael Nadal". ESPN. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
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