Míchel (footballer, born 1975)

Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz, known as Míchel (born 30 October 1975), is a Spanish professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of Girona.

In a 20-year senior career, he amassed La Liga totals of 182 matches and 25 goals, adding 169 games and 18 goals in the Segunda División and playing mostly with Rayo Vallecano (17 seasons, three spells).

As a manager, Míchel led Rayo, Huesca and Girona in both top divisions, winning promotion with all three including as champions with the first two clubs.

Playing career
Míchel was born in Madrid. A product of Rayo Vallecano's youth system, he appeared once for the first team in the 1993–94 season, then alternated between them and the reserves two more years.

After a loan to UD Almería in the Segunda División, Míchel returned to Rayo, being essential as the capital outskirts side finished ninth in 1999–2000 and qualified for the subsequent UEFA Cup through fair play. The following campaign, he scored a career-best ten times in 33 games (all starts) as they ranked 14th; he added six goals in the UEFA Cup, in a run that ended in the quarter-finals at the hands of fellow La Liga club Deportivo Alavés.

Míchel moved in 2003 to Real Murcia CF for a €2,7 million fee, being relatively used in his first year, which ended in top-division relegation. He appeared very rarely, however, in his final two seasons, which included a six-month loan spell with Málaga CF in 2004–05, where he was also sparingly used.

In July 2006, Míchel returned home and to Rayo, helping it return to the second tier in the 2007–08 season. He continued to be team captain and, during the 2010–11 campaign, still contributed two goals in 20 matches as they returned to the top flight after eight years.

Rayo
On 9 July 2012, after having appeared in only nine games as Rayo retained their league status – just 246 minutes of action – the 36-year-old Míchel retired from football, being immediately appointed coach of his main club's youth sides. On 21 February 2017, he replaced Rubén Baraja at the helm of the first team, debuting four days later with a 1–0 loss at neighbours Getafe CF via a last-minute own goal by Chechu Dorado; the side eventually achieved promotion to the top division in the 2017–18 campaign as champions.

Míchel signed a new one-year contract with the option of a second, before 2018–19 began. He was dismissed on 18 March 2019 after seven consecutive defeats left the Vallecas club six points inside the relegation zone; he was replaced by Paco Jémez as the team suffered relegation.

Huesca
On 1 June 2019, Míchel was named manager of SD Huesca, recently demoted to the second tier. He and his side won another promotion, again in the top position.

On 12 January 2021, as the team ranked in last place, Míchel was relieved of his duties, while the season ended again in descent.

Girona
On 9 July 2021, Míchel signed as coach of Girona FC on a one-year deal with the option of a second year. He achieved promotion in his first season after a 3–1 win over Tenerife in the playoff final, while also making the last 16 of the Copa del Rey where the Catalans lost 2–1 at home to his former club Rayo.

Míchel signed a new contract on 19 May 2022, while his club's promotion was still uncertain; his new deal was to 2024. They eventually achieved this in the playoffs.

Girona finished the first part of the 2023–24 season in first place, level on 48 points with Real Madrid. On 4 May 2024, he led his team to a 4–2 win over FC Barcelona, securing their first ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

Tactics
In his spell as Girona manager, Michel was noted for utilising a low build-up style in a 4–3–1–3 formation, with principles such as the goalkeeper playing as a center-back and a diamond midfield. He also deployed two wingers high and wide, and a striker pinning the stoppers to create space for the number-ten and inverted full-backs occupying the space left in the middle.

Manager
Rayo Vallecano
 * Segunda División: 2017–18

Huesca
 * Segunda División: 2019–20

Individual
 * La Liga Manager of the Season: 2023–24
 * Miguel Muñoz Trophy (Segunda División): 2019–20
 * La Liga Manager of the Month: September 2023, November 2023, January 2024