Juan Ramón López Muñiz (born 2 November 1968) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager.

Playing career

Muñiz was born in Gijón, Asturias. During his playing days, he represented hometown club Sporting de Gijón (making his first-team debut in the 1991–92 season, at already 23), Rayo Vallecano – scoring four goals from 40 appearances during 1998–99, which granted the Madrid side La Liga promotion via the playoffs even though they finished fifth – and

CD Numancia Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Primera División RFEF – Group 2, holding home games at ''Nuevo Estadio Los ...

. Muñiz retired at the end of the 2001–02 campaign at the age of 33, as the team from Soria could only finish in 17th position in

Segunda División The Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Segunda División, commercially known as LaLiga SmartBank for sponsorship reasons, is the men's second professional association football division of the Spanish football league system. Administrated by the Lig ...

. In 11 years as a professional, he appeared in 332 games and scored ten times (234 matches and six goals in the top flight).

Coaching career

Muñiz started as an assistant manager at Málaga in 2003, under

Juande Ramos Juan de la Cruz "Juande" Ramos Cano (born 25 September 1954) is a Spanish former footballer and manager. After playing and managing at an amateur level, Ramos led Rayo Vallecano to promotion to La Liga, followed by reaching the quarter-finals o ...

. His first head coach experience arrived in early 2006 with lowly UD Marbella, and he subsequently returned to Málaga as the main manager for two seasons, achieving a runner-up place in

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

and thus promoting the Andalusians to the top tier after a two-year hiatus. In July 2008, Muñiz switched to fellow league team Racing de Santander. At the season's end, he was released from contract and promptly returned to Málaga, replacing Antonio Tapia who took over relegated neighbours Real Betis. In late June 2010, after leading Málaga to the 17th position, last above the relegation zone, Muñiz was sacked. Shortly after, he rejoined Ramos at FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Muñiz was appointed AD Alcorcón manager on 8 June 2015, after four years in Ukraine. Roughly one year later, he signed with fellow division two club

Levante UD Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. (, ca-valencia, Llevant Unió Esportiva ) is a List of football clubs in Spain, Spanish football club in Valencia, in the Valencian Community, namesake autonomous community. Founded on 9 September 1909, Levante ...

, achieving promotion at the first attempt as champions. On 20 June 2018, Muñiz returned to Málaga for a third spell after agreeing to a two-year contract. He was dismissed the following 14 April, following a 1–2 home loss against Extremadura UD. On 5 July 2020, after more than a year without a club, Muñiz took charge of Deportivo Alavés in the top division until the end of the campaign.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Levante *

: 2016–17 Individual * Miguel Muñoz Trophy (

): 2016–17

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Muniz, Juan Ramon Lopez 1968 births Living people Spanish men's footballers Footballers from Gijón Men's association football defenders La Liga players Segunda División players Segunda División B players Tercera División players Sporting de Gijón B players CD Izarra footballers Sporting de Gijón players Rayo Vallecano players CD Numancia players Spanish football managers La Liga managers Segunda División managers Segunda División B managers Málaga CF managers Racing de Santander managers AD Alcorcón managers Levante UD managers Deportivo Alavés managers Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine