Miguel Ángel Nadal

Miguel Ángel Nadal

Nadal in training with Spain
Personal information
Full name	Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar
Date of birth	28 July 1966 (1966-07-28) (age 45)
Place of birth	Manacor, Spain
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Defender / Midfielder
Youth career
1980–1986	Manacor
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1991	Mallorca	130	(22)
1991–1999	Barcelona	208	(12)
1999–2005	Mallorca	149	(6)
Total		487	(40)
National team
1991–2002	Spain	62	(3)
Teams managed
2010–2011	Mallorca (assistant)
2011	Mallorca (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

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

Miguel Ángel Nadal Homar (Spanish pronunciation: [miˈɣel ˈaŋxel naˈðal oˈmar]; born 28 July 1966) is a retired Spanish footballer and current coach.

Nicknamed The Beast,^[1] Nadal based his game in a tremendous physical display, also being adaptable to various defender and midfielder positions.

He began and ended his career with RCD Mallorca, but his greatest achievements came whilst at FC Barcelona. During 19 professional seasons, he played in 492 matches (462 of those in La Liga).

A very important part of Spain's setup during the 90's and the recipient of 62 international caps, Nadal represented the nation in three World Cups and at Euro 1996.

Club career

Born in Manacor, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Nadal made his debuts in the first division with local RCD Mallorca, first appearing on April 19, 1987, at the Camp Nou, against FC Barcelona. In his final two seasons, after helping in a 1989 promotion, he scored 12 goals from 72 league appearances, thus being snapped up by the Catalonia outfit for 1991–92.

With Barça, Nadal was a very important part in the conquest of five leagues, two cups and the 1992 European Cup, playing in over 300 overall games, and occupying several defensive positions in both the back-four and in midfield. In his last season, however, ostracized by 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 materialized.^[1]

Subsequently, Nadal returned to Mallorca, starting strong, and only missing 11 matches in his first three years combined, while also being important in the 2003 Copa conquest. He retired from the game at almost 39,^[2] having appeared in nearly 700 official matches.

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.

International career

Nadal earned 62 caps representing Spain, his debut coming on 13 November 1991, in a meaningless UEFA Euro 1992 qualifier against Czechoslovakia; he went on to appear in three FIFA World Cups for the national side.

Additionally, Nadal had the misfortune of missing a penalty at Wembley Stadium against England, in a Euro 1996 shootout loss. After appearing in four complete matches at the 2002 World Cup, at almost 36, he retired from the international scene.

Honors

• Barcelona:
  • European Cup: 1991–92
  • UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97
  • UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997
  • Spanish League: 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99
  • Spanish Cup: 1996–97, 1997–98
  • Spanish Supercup: 1991, 1992, 1994

• Mallorca:
  • Spanish Cup: 2002–03

Personal

Nadal is the uncle of tennis champion Rafael Nadal, whilst his brother, Toni, acts as Rafael's coach.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The beauty of the beast; The Guardian, 11 September 2001
2. ^ Miguel Ángel Nadal anuncia su retirada del fútbol, tras estar 18 años en activo (Miguel Ángel Nadal announces retirement, after 18 professional years) (Spanish)
3. ^ Rafael Nadal – ESPN 2008 Summer Olympics profile

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Real Mallorca bio (Spanish)

Persondata
Name	Nadal, Miguel Angel
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1966-07-28
Place of birth	Manacor, Spain
Date of death
Place of death