Míchel Salgado

Spanish footballer

Míchel Salgado
Salgado playing in a legends match in 2018
Personal information
Full name Miguel Ángel Salgado Fernández[1]
Date of birth (1975-10-22) 22 October 1975 (age 48)[2]
Place of birth As Neves, Spain[2]
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
1990–1992 Cristo Victoria
1992–1994 Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Celta B 20 (1)
1995–1999 Celta 92 (3)
1996–1997 → Salamanca (loan) 36 (1)
1999–2009 Real Madrid 251 (4)
2009–2012 Blackburn Rovers 66 (0)
2018 Independiente 1 (0)
Total 466 (9)
International career
1994 Spain U18 7 (0)
1995 Spain U19 2 (0)
1995 Spain U20 5 (1)
1996–1998 Spain U21 10 (0)
1998–2006 Spain 53 (0)
2005 Galicia 1 (0)
Managerial career
2016–2017 Galicia
2022-2023 Pafos FC
2024- U-15 Saudi Arabia national football team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Miguel Ángel "Míchel" Salgado Fernández (born 22 October 1975) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a right-back. He lives in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since he retired from football in 2012, is the founder and owner of UAE Second Division League football club Fursan Hispania FC (formerly the football academy, also founded by Salgado, known as Spanish Soccer Schools from 2013 until its evolution) since 2020, and is currently the U-15 Saudi Arabian National Football Team’s head coach.[3]

Nicknamed Il Due[4] ("two" in Italian), he was known for his combative tackling and attacking play. After excellent displays at Celta, he spent an entire decade at Real Madrid, where former teammate Steve McManaman attested to his aggressive style by describing him as "the hardest person in the world....a genuine psychopath, even in training."[5] He also played three seasons in England with Blackburn Rovers.

Salgado, who played 341 La Liga matches and scored seven goals, represented the Spain national team over eight years, collecting more than 50 caps and appearing in one World Cup and one European Championship.

Club career

Celta

Born in As Neves, Province of Pontevedra, Galicia, Salgado began his professional career with hometown's RC Celta de Vigo,[6] making his La Liga debut on 22 January 1995 in a 0–4 away loss against Real Madrid.[7] He was loaned for a season to UD Salamanca in the Segunda División, and after his return became the first-choice in his position.[8]

Salgado scored a career-best three goals in the 1998–99 campaign,[9][10][11] helping his team to finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.[12][13][6]

Real Madrid

In 1999, Salgado was purchased by Real Madrid for €11,000,000,[12] playing 29 league games in his first season while also helping the club win the UEFA Champions League.[14] He was the capital side's starter during his first seven years, but was relegated to the bench by former Sevilla FC youngster Sergio Ramos in 2006–07.[15]

Real Madrid fans show their appreciation of Salgado's ten years service to the club

Salgado was still able to contribute 16 matches to the Merengues' 30th national title, mainly due to injuries to Pepe, with Ramos being relocated to centre back.[16] In the following two campaigns he featured very rarely (only 17 appearances), being sent off in the final game of 2008–09, a 1–2 loss at CA Osasuna on 31 May 2009 as Madrid slumped to a fifth consecutive league defeat.[17]

Salgado was released in early August 2009, with the team already midway into pre-season.[18]

Blackburn Rovers

Aged nearly 34, Salgado moved to Blackburn Rovers of the Premier League on 19 August 2009, signing a two-year deal after impressing manager Sam Allardyce whilst on trial. He went on to say he was happy to be playing for his new club, intending to retire at Ewood Park.[19][20]

Salgado made his competitive debut on 12 September 2009, against Wolverhampton Wanderers as a late substitute (3–1 home win).[21] On 27 October he scored his first goal for his new team, in a 5–2 victory over Peterborough United in the Football League Cup.[22]

On 27 January 2011, 35-year-old Salgado agreed to a contract extension.[23] He was first choice in the first games of the 2011–12 season, until picking up an injury.[24]

Blackburn manager Steve Kean revealed in December 2011 that Salgado was being omitted from the squad as his contract stated that the player was entitled to a new deal if he played nine more matches in the campaign, the club not being able to afford fresh terms.[25][26]

Futsal and later years

Salgado in a charity match in Tehran in 2015

Aged 40, Salgado came out of retirement to join Kochi 5s in India's Premier Futsal as a marquee player.[27] He later was part of the board of Heritage Sports Holdings, which owned the football clubs Gibraltar United F.C. and UD Los Barrios.[28][29]

Salgado came out of retirement again in April 2018, starting for Independiente F.C. in a 1–1 draw against C.D. Plaza Amador in the quarter-finals of the Panamanian Clausura tournament.[30] On 5 February 2021, he was appointed director of football of Cypriot First Division side Pafos FC.[31] He later became the caretaker manager of said team for the final matches of the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons.[32]

On 23 June 2024, Spanish and Turkish sports press seemingly confirmed Salgado would be going to Turkey to become Turkish second division league team Sakaryaspor’s head coach.[33] However, five days later, on 28 June 2024, Spanish sports newspaper Marca confirmed the news was false and reported that Salgado would have actually signed for the Saudi Arabian U-15 National Football Team as head coach, position which he currently holds.[34]

International career

Salgado won the first of his 53 caps for Spain on 5 September 1998, in an infamous 3–2 loss in Cyprus for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifiers.[35] He was part of the nation's squads at Euro 2000 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[36]

Due to last-minute injuries, Salgado missed out on the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.[37] He also represented the Galician autonomous team, which he later coached alongside Deportivo de La Coruña's Fran.[38][39]

On 4 September 2018, Salgado was named assistant manager to the Egyptian national team.[40]

Personal life

Salgado is married to Malula Sanz, daughter of former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz.[41] They currently reside in Dubai, UAE. Together, they have three children, Malu Salgado (born 04/01/2003), Miguel Salgado Sanz (17/05/2005), and Alán (01/10/2009).[42]

Malu is a singer,[43][44] while Miguel is also a footballer, position centre-forward,[45] who currently plays for Portuguese football club Gil Vicente Futebol Club.[46][47] He wears number 92. The youngster also played for the U-18 United Arab Emirates football national team on various occasions,[48][49][50] scoring his first international goal against the U-18 Saudi Arabian national football team.[51] Additionally, Alán plays football as well and currently plays for his father’s football academy and football club Fursan Hispania FC.[52]


Salgado is brother-in-law of former football players Fernando Sanz and Paco Sanz as well as of former basketball player Lorenzo Sanz Durán.[53][54] He is also UD Almería B player Paco Sanz Mora’s uncle.[55]

Salgado is an avid chess fan.[56][57][58]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[59][60]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celta B 1993–94 Segunda División B 20 1 0 0 — 0 0 20 1
Celta 1994−95 La Liga 14 0 1 0 — 0 0 15 0
1995−96 18 0 5 0 — 0 0 23 0
1997−98 25 0 5 0 — 0 0 30 0
1998−99 35 3 2 0 — 7 0 44 3
Total 92 3 13 0 — 7 0 112 3
Salamanca (loan) 1996–97 Segunda División 36 1 2 0 — 0 0 38 1
Real Madrid 1999−2000 La Liga 29 0 0 0 — 17 0 46 0
2000−01 27 1 0 0 — 11 0 38 1
2001−02 35 0 1 0 — 14 0 50 0
2002−03 35 0 0 0 — 16 1 51 1
2003−04 35 1 1 0 — 10 0 46 1
2004−05 30 2 0 0 — 9 0 39 2
2005−06 27 0 1 0 — 5 0 33 0
2006−07 16 0 0 0 — 1 0 17 0
2007−08 8 0 3 0 — 2 0 13 0
2008−09 9 0 0 0 — 1 0 10 0
Total 251 4 6 0 — 86 1 343 5
Blackburn 2009–10 Premier League 21 0 1 0 4 1 — 26 1
2010–11 36 0 2 0 0 0 — 38 0
2011–12 9 0 0 0 0 0 — 9 0
Total 66 0 3 0 4 1 — 73 1
Independiente 2017–18 Panamanian Football League 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
Career total 466 9 24 0 4 1 93 1 587 11

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[61]
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 1998 3 0
1999 9 0
2000 5 0
2001 0 0
2002 5 0
2003 10 0
2004 8 0
2005 8 0
2006 5 0
Total 53 0

Honours

Real Madrid[1][60]

Spain U21

References

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  2. ^ a b c "MÍCHEL SALGADO Fernández". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Míchel Salgado se hace cargo de la Selección Sub 15 de Arabia Saudí". MARCA (in Spanish). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Diez años de Il Due" [Ten years of Il Due]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 22 January 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  5. ^ Aikman, Richard (11 August 2009). "10 things you didn't know about Miguel Salgado". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  6. ^ a b "Míchel Salgado" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Se cumplen 22 años del debut de Míchel Salgado con el Celta" [22 years of Míchel Salgado's debut with Celta]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 22 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  8. ^ Laborda González, Adrià (23 August 2016). "Suena Míchel, Míchel Salgado" [The man of the hour is Míchel, Míchel Salgado] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ Besa, Ramón (27 September 1998). "El Celta empata en el descuento" [Celta draw in injury time]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  10. ^ Campos, Pablo (14 December 1998). "El Celta expone su orgullo" [Celta showcase pride]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  11. ^ "No lo tuvo tan fácil el Celta" [Celta did not have it so easy]. ABC (in Spanish). 8 February 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "Miguel Salgado". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  13. ^ Adrados, Juan Pedro. "Spain 1998/99". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Real Madrid 3–0 Valencia". The Guardian. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Sentido homenaje a Salgado en el Bernabéu" [Hearfelt homage to Salgado at the Bernabéu] (in Spanish). RTVE. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Michel Salgado: "Quiero seguir en el Real Madrid"" [Michel Salgado: "I want to continue in Real Madrid"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 4 August 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  17. ^ Torrico, Eduardo (31 May 2009). "Casillas y Teixeira salvan a Osasuna" [Casillas and Teixeira save Osasuna] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
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  20. ^ "Blackburn Rovers complete signing of former Real Madrid full-back Michel Salgado". The Daily Telegraph. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  21. ^ Roopanarine, Les (12 September 2009). "Blackburn 3–1 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Blackburn 5–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Salgado happy to extend his Blackburn deal". Football Press. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. ^ Slevison, Andrew (21 October 2011). "Grella, Nelsen still sidelined for Blackburn Rovers". Tribal Football. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  25. ^ "Salgado 'frozen out'". Sky Sports. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Blackburn can't afford to play me – Salgado". ESPN. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  27. ^ "Premier Futsal: Squads announced for inaugural edition". Goal. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  28. ^ Piñero, Margota (13 December 2017). "Michel Salgado, al rescate de la UD Los Barrios de Tercera" [Michel Salgado, to the rescue of UD Los Barrios from Tercera]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Who we are – Our story". Heritage Sports Holdings. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  30. ^ "Míchel Salgado reaparece en Panamá con un empate" [Míchel Salgado reappears in Panama with a draw]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 29 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Επίσημη η "βόμβα" – Στην Κύπρο θρυλική μορφή της Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης (photos)" [The "bomb" is official – Real Madrid legend in Cyprus (photos)] (in Greek). Onsports. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Míchel Salgado asume de forma interina el banquillo del Pafos". www.lavozdegalicia.es. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  33. ^ Sancar, Özgür (23 June 2024). "Míchel Salgado se va a Turquía". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Míchel Salgado se hace cargo de la Selección Sub 15 de Arabia Saudí". MARCA (in Spanish). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  35. ^ "España cae ante Chipre, un equipo repleto de aficionados" [Spain fall against Cyprus, team filled with amateurs]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 5 September 1998. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  36. ^ "España – Arabia Saudí: Salgado contra los "hijos del desierto"" [Spain – Saudi Arabia: Salgado against the "desert sons"] (in Spanish). DW-TV. 23 June 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  37. ^ "Goodbye pharoes, hello Faro". UEFA. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  38. ^ "Riazor, escenario del Galicia-Venezuela con Fran y Míchel Salgado de técnicos" [Riazor, venue of Galicia-Venezuela with Fran and Míchel Salgado as managers]. Atlántico Diario (in Spanish). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  39. ^ Montes, Paula (6 May 2016). "El Celta protagonista de la selección gallega" [Celta protagonist of Galician national team] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  40. ^ Oludare, Shina (4 September 2018). "Michel Salgado resumes duty as Egypt assistant coach". Goal. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  41. ^ "Míchel Salgado and Malula Sanz esperan su tercer hijo" [Míchel Salgado and Malula Sanz expect their third child] (in Spanish). ¡Hola!. 15 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  42. ^ "Michel Salgado y Malula Sanz serán padres por tercera vez". abc (in Spanish). 20 April 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  43. ^ "Malu, hija de Michel Salgado, nos habla de sus primeros pasos en la música". ¡HOLA! (in Spanish). 17 October 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  44. ^ "Malu, hija de Michel Salgado, empieza su carrera de cantante". ¡HOLA! (in Spanish). 13 April 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Miguel Salgado Sanz - Player profile". www.transfermarkt.com. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  46. ^ EFE (11 July 2023). "Miguel Sanz, hijo de Míchel Salgado, ficha por el Gil Vicente portugués". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  47. ^ ElDesmarque (12 July 2023). "Miguel Sanz, hijo de Míchel Salgado, ficha por el Gil Vicente: "Me hace recordar mi primera pretemporada con el Celta"". ElDesmarque (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  48. ^ "Miguel Salgado Sanz - Perfil del jugador". www.transfermarkt.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  49. ^ "Los otros Maffeo y Garnacho: el hijo de Michel Salgado en Emiratos Árabes, un príncipe en Indonesia..." Relevo (in Spanish). 8 November 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  50. ^ "El hijo de Míchel Salgado es convocado por Emiratos Árabes Unidos". MARCA (in Spanish). 6 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  51. ^ "Emiratos Árabes Unidos U18 - Arabia Saudita U18, 28/03/2023 - Partidos amistosos - Informe del partido". www.transfermarkt.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  52. ^ "Míchel Salgado y Malula Sanz, así son sus tres hijos". ¡HOLA! (in Spanish). 6 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  53. ^ Gómez, Sergio (22 March 2020). "La emotiva despedida de Míchel Salgado a Lorenzo Sanz: "No sé cómo empezar, es muy duro..."". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  54. ^ EFE (21 March 2020). "La familia de Lorenzo Sanz: "No se merecía este final"". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  55. ^ "Paco Sanz - Perfil del jugador 24/25". www.transfermarkt.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  56. ^ "Carlsen – Nepomniachtchi | Game 8 | World Chess Championship | Howell, Houska, Snare". YouTube. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  57. ^ Doggers, Peter (5 December 2021). "Carlsen wins Game 8 as Nepo falters in FIDE World Chess Championship". Chess.com. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  58. ^ Boyero, Jesús J. (5 December 2021). "Míchel Salgado dio suerte a Carlsen, que logró su segunda victoria en el Mundial" [Míchel Salgado gave luck to Carlsen, who got his second World Cup win]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  59. ^ "Salgado: Miguel Ángel Salgado Fernández". BDFutbol. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  60. ^ a b "Míchel Salgado". Soccerway. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  61. ^ "Míchel Salgado". European Football. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  62. ^ "Real Madrid 3–0 Valencia". UEFA. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  63. ^ "Leverkusen 1–2 Real Madrid". UEFA. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  64. ^ "Toyota Cup 2002". FIFA. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  65. ^ "Real Madrid 3–1 Feyenoord". UEFA. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  66. ^ "1998: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch". UEFA. Retrieved 19 February 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Míchel Salgado.
  • Míchel Salgado at BDFutbol Edit this at Wikidata
  • Míchel Salgado at Soccerbase Edit this at Wikidata
  • Míchel Salgado at National-Football-Teams.com Edit this at Wikidata
  • Míchel Salgado – FIFA competition record (archived) Edit this at Wikidata
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