Míchel Salgado

Miguel Ángel "Míchel" Salgado Fernández (born 22 October 1975) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Nicknamed Il Due ("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." 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.

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

Whilst at Celta, Salgado was involved in an incident with Atlético Madrid's Juninho Paulista in February 1998: after a dangerous challenge, the Brazilian was sidelined for six months and missed that year's FIFA World Cup.

Salgado scored a career-best three goals in the 1998–99 campaign,  helping his team to finish fifth and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Real Madrid
In 1999, Salgado was purchased by Real Madrid for €11,000,000, playing 29 league games in his first season while also helping the club win the UEFA Champions League. 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.

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. In the following two campaigns he featured very rarely (only 17 appearances), being sent off in the final game of 2008–09, a 2–1 loss at CA Osasuna on 31 May 2009 as Madrid slumped to a fifth consecutive league defeat.

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

Blackburn Rovers
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.

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

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

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.

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

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. He settled in Dubai, United Arab Emirates after retiring, and in 2020 helped to found Fursan Hispania FC, initially as an academy.

On 5 February 2021, Salgado was appointed director of football of Cypriot First Division side Pafos FC. On two occasions, he acted as their caretaker manager.

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. He was part of the nation's squads at Euro 2000 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

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

On 4 September 2018, Salgado was named assistant manager to the Egyptian national team. In June 2024, following rumours that he would be taking over TFF First League club Sakaryaspor, he became head coach of the Saudi Arabia under-15 national team.

Personal life
Salgado married Malula Sanz, daughter of former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, on 5 July 2000. They had three children, daughter Malu (born 2003) and sons Miguel (2005) and Alán (2009). Malu was a singer, while her brothers were also footballers.

Salgado was brother-in-law of former Real Madrid players Fernando Sanz and Paco Sanz, as well as of basketball player Lorenzo Sanz Durán. He was an avid chess fan.

Honours
Real Madrid
 * La Liga: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08
 * Supercopa de España: 2001, 2003, 2008
 * UEFA Champions League: 1999–2000, 2001–02
 * Intercontinental Cup: 2002
 * UEFA Super Cup: 2002

Spain U21
 * UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1998