Miguel Muñoz Mozún (19 January 1922 – 16 July 1990) was a Spanish Association football, football player and manager. A midfielder, he spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid before going on to coach the club, where he is widely considered one of the most successful and greatest managers in football history, leading the team to two UEFA Champions League, European Cup victories and nine La Liga titles (winning seven major titles in both major competitions combined as a player). Muñoz later had a six-year coaching spell with the Spain national football team, Spain national team, and led them to the final of UEFA Euro 1984, Euro 1984.

Playing career

Born in Madrid, Muñoz played for various junior teams in the area, but initially failed to attract the attention of Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid, going on to subsequently represent CD Logroñés, Racing de Santander and Celta de Vigo. In 1948 he, together with the likes of Pahiño, helped the latter finish fourth in 1947–48 La Liga, La Liga and reach the 1947–48 Copa del Generalísimo, Copa del Generalísimo final, where he scored in the 1–4 defeat to Sevilla FC, Sevilla CF. The following season, both players signed for Real Madrid, and Muñoz went on to appear in 347 official matches with the club from the capital. Additionally, he won seven caps for Spain national football team, Spain, but never appeared in any major tournament. Muñoz scored Real's first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League, European Cup, helping to a 2–0 away win against Servette FC on 8 September 1955. Subsequently, he Captain (association football), captained the team in two consecutive competition wins in 1955–56 European Cup, 1955–56 and 1956–57 European Cup, 1956–57, and retired from football the following year at nearly 36.Biography at Real Madrid Fans

Coaching career

Muñoz served a brief apprenticeship as coach of Real's reserve team, then named Real Madrid Castilla, Plus Ultra CF, before being appointed coach of the main squad in 1959. His time in charge was one of the club's most successful eras as, under his guidance, it won the league nine times; this included a five-in-a-row sequence (1961–65) and another three consecutive. On the European front, Muñoz led Real Madrid to two more wins in the European Cup, in 1959–60 European Cup, 1959–60 and 1965–66 European Cup, 1965–66. As a result, he became the first person to win the competition both as a player and a coach, which was later matched by Giovanni Trapattoni, Johan Cruyff, Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane; he left in 1974 after 16 seasons, as the side's longest-serving and most successful coach. After seven more club seasons (Granada CF, UD Las Palmas and Sevilla FC), Muñoz took the reins of the Spain national team after their group stage exit in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, on home soil. Previously, he had had a four-game Caretaker manager, interim spell in the late 60s, and eventually led the country to the UEFA Euro 1984 runner-up place, as well as the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup.

Death

Muñoz died in Madrid aged 68, from bleeding due to esophageal varices.

Honours

Player

Real Madrid *La Liga: 1953–54 La Liga, 1953–54, 1954–55 La Liga, 1954–55, 1956–57 La Liga, 1956–57, 1957–58 La Liga, 1957–58 *Latin Cup, Copa Latina: 1955 Latin Cup, 1955, 1957 Latin Cup, 1957 *UEFA Champions League, European Cup: 1955–56 European Cup, 1955–56, 1956–57 European Cup, 1956–57, 1957–58 European Cup, 1957–58

Manager

Real Madrid *La Liga: 1960–61 La Liga, 1960–61, 1961–62 La Liga, 1961–62, 1962–63 La Liga, 1962–63, 1963–64 La Liga, 1963–64, 1964–65 La Liga, 1964–65, 1966–67 La Liga, 1966–67, 1967–68 La Liga, 1967–68, 1968–69 La Liga, 1968–69, 1971–72 La Liga, 1971–72 *Copa del Rey, Copa del Generalísimo: 1961–62 Copa del Generalísimo, 1961–62, 1969–70 Copa del Generalísimo, 1969–70 *European Cup: 1959–60 European Cup, 1959–60, 1965–66 European Cup, 1965–66 *Intercontinental Cup (football), Intercontinental Cup: 1960 Intercontinental Cup, 1960

Individual

*France Football 14th Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019

Managerial statistics

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Munoz, Miguel 1922 births 1990 deaths Footballers from Madrid Spanish footballers Association football midfielders La Liga players Segunda División players CD Logroñés footballers Racing de Santander players RC Celta de Vigo players Real Madrid CF players Spain B international footballers Spain international footballers Spanish football managers La Liga managers Segunda División managers Real Madrid Castilla managers Real Madrid CF managers Granada CF managers UD Las Palmas managers Sevilla FC managers Spain national football team managers UEFA Euro 1984 managers 1986 FIFA World Cup managers UEFA Euro 1988 managers UEFA Champions League winning managers UEFA Champions League winning players