Mikel Alonso

Mikel Alonso

Personal information
Full name	Mikel Alonso Olano
Date of birth	16 May 1980 (1980-05-16) (age 31)
Place of birth	Tolosa, Spain
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Charlton Athletic
Number	23
Youth career
	Antiguoko
	Real Sociedad
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2002	Real Sociedad B
2001–2008	Real Sociedad	104	(2)
2003–2004	→ Numancia (loan)	10	(1)
2007–2008	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	7	(0)
2009–2011	Tenerife	55	(3)
2011–	Charlton Athletic	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Alonso and the second or maternal family name is Olano.

Mikel Alonso Olano (born 16 May 1980) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic in England, as a midfielder. He is the brother of Spanish international midfielder Xabi Alonso, who plays for Real Madrid and used to play for Liverpool FC.

Football career

Real Sociedad

A product of Real Sociedad's youth ranks, as younger brother Xabi, Alonso was born in Tolosa, Basque Country, and made his debut in La Liga on 22 April 2001, against Real Valladolid. However, the presence of his sibling and Mikel Aranburu in central midfield meant that he was restricted to a supporting role, and he was then sent on loan to second division's CD Numancia for the 2003–04 season but, while he was dedicated to the Soria team's bid for promotion, he remained keen to establish himself at Real Sociedad, returning at the end of the season.^[1] Under the management of José Mari Bakero, the player's importance to the team was demonstrated in 2005–06, when he was the club's most used footballer, playing in 37 matches.

After brother Xabi had already settled in England with Liverpool (having arrived during the summer of 2004), Alonso also decided to move to the Premier League. He joined Bolton Wanderers, another team in north-west England, on a loan deal on 10 July 2007 with the option of a permanent deal at the end of the season.^[2] However, a change of club management meant Alonso fell out of favour and, under new coach Gary Megson, he only made two first team appearances. At the end of the season Bolton opted not to make the loan deal a permanent one.

Alonso went back to Spain for 2008–09 but, upon his return to San Sebastián, discovered he was not a part of coach Juan Manuel Lillo's plans and was sent on trial to Olympiacos FC. The trial was unsuccessful, however, and Real Sociedad exercised their right to buy the remainder of his contract, releasing him as a free agent.^[3]

Tenerife

Following his release from Real Sociedad, Swansea City boss Roberto Martínez offered the fellow Spaniard a chance to regain fitness.^[4] After his brother highly recommended both coach Martínez and the move to Swansea, Alonso accepted the offer and joined the squad in training.^[5]

However, Alonso would not remain in Wales and, in late January 2009, moved to second division outfit CD Tenerife, after being contacted regarding a season-long contract.^[6] He accepted the offer and stated that he had "heard good things" about Tenerife. However, he remained a fan of his former club Real Sociedad, stating that, although the team were rivals to Tenerife, he hoped they gained promotion.^[7] He contributed with 11 matches as the Canary Islands side returned to the top level after a seven-year absence.

In the 2009–10 season, Alonso began as a starter, scoring with a rare header in the second matchday, a 1–0 home win against Athletic Bilbao.^[8] However, he appeared less regularly in the final stretch, as Tenerife were eventually relegated back.

Charlton

In late June 2011, following another Tenerife relegation, 31-year old Alonso returned to England, joining Football League One team Charlton Athletic.^[9] He made his official debut on 5 October in the Football League Trophy tie at The Valley against Brentford, committing a penalty in an eventual 0–3 home loss.

Personal

The first son of Periko Alonso, who played with Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, Alonso grew up surrounded by football: he and his younger brother, Xabi - who also appeared for Real Sociedad before representing with individual and team success Liverpool and Real Madrid - would go training with their father when he was playing for CE Sabadell FC; all three were midfielders.

Influenced by his father, Alonso followed his example and became a professional footballer at the Basque side.^[10]

References

1. ^ "Mikel Alonso: "A la Real y a mí nos interesa que juegue cada Domingo" [Mikel Alonso: "Real and myself are interested in me playing every Sunday"]" (in Spanish). Noticias. 16 January 2004. http://www.noticias.info/archivo/2004/200401/20040116/20040116_17275.shtm. Retrieved 13 December 2008. 
2. ^ "Alonso joins Bolton from Sociedad". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/6290040.stm. Retrieved 10 July 2007. 
3. ^ "El club presentará mañana el ERE con Alonso y Stevanovic [The club will release Alonso and Stefanovic tomorrow under ERE legislation]" (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 3 September 2008. http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20080903/noticia_53530989163.html. Retrieved 4 November 2008. 
4. ^ Alonso enjoying his Swansea City stint; The Western Mail, 11 December 2008
5. ^ "Alonso: My brother Xabi told me to link up with Swans". Wales on Sunday. 14 December 2008. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/swansea-city-fc/2008/12/14/alonso-my-brother-xabi-told-me-to-link-up-with-swans-91466-22470921/. Retrieved 15 December 2008. 
6. ^ El Tenerife confirma el fichaje de Mikel Alonso (Tenerife confirms Mikel Alonso's signing); Marca, 28 January 2009 (Spanish)
7. ^ Mikel Alonso: "Tenía varias opciones y Tenerife me pareció la más atractiva" (Mikel Alonso: "I had several options and Tenerife seemed the right choice"); Diario AS, 29 January 2009 (Spanish)
8. ^ "Athletic Bilbao lose 100% record". ESPN Soccernet. 23 September 2009. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=275693&cc=5739. Retrieved 11 May 2011. 
9. ^ "Mikel makes three". Charlton Athletic FC. 21 June 2011. http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2379946,00.html. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 
10. ^ Balague, Guillem (18 May 2008). "Dads and Lads: Periko and Xabi Alonso". Liverpool FC. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N159927080518-0840.htm. Retrieved 13 December 2008. 

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Mikel Alonso career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Alonso, Mikel
Alternative names
Short description	Spanish footballer
Date of birth	16 May 1980
Place of birth	Tolosa, Spain
Date of death
Place of death