Manuel Almunia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Manuel Almunia

Almunia warming up for West Ham United in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Manuel Almunia Rivero
Date of birth	(1977-05-19) 19 May 1977 (age 48)
Place of birth	Pamplona, Spain
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Al Jazira (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
	Oberena
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1999	Osasuna B	46	(0)
1999–2000	Osasuna	0	(0)
1999–2000	→ Cartagonova (loan)	3	(0)
2000–2001	Sabadell	29	(0)
2001–2004	Celta	0	(0)
2001–2002	→ Eibar (loan)	35	(0)
2002–2003	→ Recreativo (loan)	2	(0)
2003–2004	→ Albacete (loan)	24	(0)
2004–2012	Arsenal	109	(0)
2011	→ West Ham United (loan)	4	(0)
2012–2014	Watford	76	(0)
Total		328	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Manuel Almunia Rivero (born on May 19, 1977) is a Spanish former professional footballer. He played as a goalkeeper for many years.

Manuel spent his early career playing in the lower football leagues in Spain. He only played in 26 top-tier games with Recreativo and Albacete. He started his journey at Osasuna. Most of his career was with Arsenal, where he joined in 2004. He played 175 official matches for them and helped them win the FA Cup in 2005. He also played a short time on loan at West Ham United. In 2012, he joined Watford and stopped playing football two years later.

Manuel Almunia's Football Journey

Starting His Career in Spain

Manuel Almunia was born in Pamplona, Navarre, Spain. He began his senior football career with CA Osasuna's reserve team in 1995. He played for this team for four seasons in a league called Segunda División B. After that, he continued to play at the same level for teams like FC Cartagonova and CE Sabadell FC.

In the summer of 2001, Manuel joined a top Spanish team, RC Celta de Vigo. However, he never played an official game for them. Instead, he was loaned out to other teams. He played for SD Eibar, where he won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in the Segunda División during the 2001–02 season. He was also loaned to Recreativo de Huelva and Albacete Balompié, both of which were in Spain's top league.

When he was at Recreativo, Manuel was a backup goalkeeper. He made his first appearance in Spain's top league on November 17, 2002. This happened when the main goalkeeper received a red card during a game. Manuel only played two league games that season. His team, Recreativo, ended up moving down to a lower league.

At Albacete Balompié, Manuel also started as a backup. But the main goalkeeper became ill, so Manuel became the first-choice player. He helped his team stay in the top league that season. His first league game for Albacete was on November 9, 2003.

Playing for Arsenal Football Club

Manuel Almunia joined Arsenal in England on July 14, 2004. He was brought in to be a backup goalkeeper for Jens Lehmann. Manuel played his first game for Arsenal on October 27 in a League Cup match against Manchester City. His first game in the Premier League was on December 4 against Birmingham City.

A big moment in his first year was in the FA Cup. In a replay match against Sheffield United, the game went to penalties. Manuel saved two penalties, helping Arsenal move forward in the competition. He was a substitute in the final game when Arsenal won against Manchester United.

In the 2005–06 season, Manuel was still the second-choice goalkeeper. But he got a chance to play in the Champions League final against FC Barcelona. The main goalkeeper was sent off early in the game, so Manuel came on. He played well, even though Arsenal lost 2-1.

During the 2006–07 season, Manuel played in 14 games. This included the League Cup final, which Arsenal lost to Chelsea. Manuel and Jens Lehmann were competing for the starting spot. Manuel later said that he treated people kindly and didn't understand why Lehmann seemed to dislike him. He felt that the other young goalkeepers at the club were better than Lehmann.

Manuel finally became the first-choice goalkeeper in the 2007–08 season. A memorable moment was when he saved a penalty from Robbie Keane. This helped Arsenal win 2-1 against Tottenham Hotspur. He was given the number one shirt after Lehmann left the club. In March 2009, he saved another important penalty from Obafemi Martins of Newcastle United, helping Arsenal win 3-1. In June 2008, he signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal.

Almunia warming up for Arsenal in 2006

Manuel started the 2010–11 season as the main goalkeeper. However, in a game against West Bromwich Albion, he made some mistakes. He then lost his place due to an injury. When he returned, he was the third-choice goalkeeper behind two Polish players, Łukasz Fabiański and Wojciech Szczęsny.

Manuel returned to the team on January 30, 2011, in an FA Cup game. On March 8, he came on as a substitute in a Champions League game against Barcelona. He made many saves, even though Arsenal lost the game. Fans voted him as the best player of the match on the club's website.

Because other goalkeepers were injured, Manuel became the first-choice again. However, he injured his knee during a warm-up before a game against Blackpool. He did not play any more matches for the rest of that season.

On September 30, 2011, Manuel joined Championship club West Ham United on a short loan. He played his first game for them on October 1. He returned to Arsenal at the end of October. On May 22, 2012, Arsenal announced that Manuel and six other players would leave the club.

Time at Watford Football Club

In July 2012, when he was 35 years old, Manuel signed a one-year contract with Watford, another Championship club. He played his first game for Watford on August 11 and kept a clean sheet (meaning he didn't let the other team score).

Manuel played in all 34 of Watford's league games. But he injured his hamstring in February 2013 and missed six games. He returned to play in April 2013.

On May 12, 2013, in a very important play-off game against Leicester City, Manuel made an amazing double save from a penalty kick. Watford was leading 2-1, but the score was tied overall. Right after his saves, Watford quickly attacked and scored a goal. This helped his team reach the final match against Crystal Palace. However, Watford lost that final game 1-0.

Watford announced that Manuel had signed a new contract on July 5, 2013, to stay for another season. His manager said that Manuel's experience was very important for the team. He left Watford in June of the next year when his contract ended.

Manuel Almunia stopped playing football on August 28, 2014. This was because doctors found a rare heart condition during a medical check-up for a new team. In 2016, he became a goalkeeping coach for UAE Pro League club Al Jazira Club.

International Football

Manuel Almunia never played for the Spanish national team. He often said that he wanted to play for the England national team, but only if Spain did not call him up first.

Manuel Almunia's Personal Life

Manuel Almunia's brother served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo. Manuel is interested in the Second World War. He used to visit places connected to the war before playing European games with Arsenal.

Career Statistics

Awards and Achievements

Arsenal

• FA Cup: 2004–05
• FA Community Shield: 2004
• Football League Cup runner-up: 2006–07, 2010–11
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06

Individual

• Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 2001–02 Segunda División

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Almunia para niños