Maynor Figueroa facts for kids
Figueroa playing for FC Dallas in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez | ||
| Date of birth | 2 May 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Jutiapa, Honduras | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back, centre-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–1999 | Victoria | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2003 | Victoria | 24 | (2) |
| 2003–2008 | Olimpia | 100 | (6) |
| 2008 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 29 | (1) |
| 2008–2013 | Wigan Athletic | 148 | (3) |
| 2013–2015 | Hull City | 35 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Wigan Athletic (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2015 | Colorado Rapids | 10 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | FC Dallas | 70 | (4) |
| 2019–2021 | Houston Dynamo | 58 | (2) |
| Total | 482 | (19) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999–2003 | Honduras U20 | 3 | (1) |
| 2001–2003 | Honduras U23 | 8 | (0) |
| 2012 | Honduras Olympic (O.P.) | 4 | (0) |
| 2003–2022 | Honduras | 181 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez (born on May 2, 1983) is a former professional football player from Honduras. He played as a left-back or centre-back. Figueroa is most famous for his time at Wigan Athletic, where he played 179 games in the Premier League. He also helped them win the FA Cup in 2013.
Maynor Figueroa played for the Honduran national team 181 times between 2003 and 2022. This included playing in seven CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, two FIFA World Cups, and the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out in Honduras
Maynor Figueroa was born in Jutiapa, Atlántida, Honduras. He began his football journey with a club called Victoria. In 2003, he moved to Olimpia, another team in Honduras. He later became the captain of Olimpia.
Joining Wigan Athletic
In January 2008, Figueroa moved to England to join Wigan Athletic on a temporary deal, called a loan. He played for them for the rest of the 2007–08 season. After a successful loan, Wigan decided to keep him. In July 2008, he rejoined Wigan on another loan for six months.
Becoming a Permanent Player at Wigan
On December 23, 2008, Figueroa officially signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to join Wigan permanently. He scored his first goal for Wigan on January 11, 2009. It was a close-range header that helped Wigan win against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Amazing Goal Against Stoke City
On December 12, 2009, Figueroa scored a truly memorable goal against Stoke City. He took a free kick from his own half of the field. He saw that the Stoke goalkeeper, Thomas Sørensen, was far from his goal. Figueroa quickly kicked the ball, sending it high over the goalkeeper and into the net. This incredible goal was chosen as the "Goal of the Season" for 2009–10 by Match of the Day.
By the end of the 2009–10 season, he had played 81 games for Wigan and scored two goals.
Staying in the Premier League
The 2010–11 season was tough for Wigan. On February 26, 2011, Figueroa played his 100th Premier League game. He helped Wigan win a crucial match against Birmingham City on March 19, 2011, scoring a goal in a 2–1 victory. On the very last day of the season, Wigan needed a win to stay in the Premier League. Figueroa helped set up the winning goal in the 78th minute, securing Wigan's safety.
FA Cup Glory
In the 2012–13 season, Figueroa scored a goal from 35 yards out in a League Cup game against Nottingham Forest. Wigan won that game 4–1. Wigan had a fantastic run in the FA Cup that season. They won the competition by beating Manchester City 1–0 in the final. Figueroa played in every round of the FA Cup leading up to the final. Although he was injured for the final match, he still received an FA Cup Winner's medal. Unfortunately, Wigan was relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season.
Moving to Hull City
After leaving Wigan, Figueroa joined Hull City, a team that had just been promoted to the Premier League. He signed with them on June 17, 2013. He played his first game for Hull City on the opening day of the 2013–14 season.
Figueroa reached the FA Cup Final for the second year in a row with Hull City in 2014. He had played in every game before the final. Hull City lost the final 3–2 to Arsenal after extra time. On October 21, 2014, Figueroa returned to Wigan Athletic on a one-month loan. He was called back to Hull City on December 22, 2014. On May 28, 2015, Figueroa left Hull City.
Playing in the MLS
Colorado Rapids
After leaving Hull City, Figueroa moved to the United States to play for MLS team Colorado Rapids. He joined them on August 7, 2015. He made his debut for the Rapids on August 14. Figueroa scored his first goal for Colorado on August 29 in a 2–1 win. He played 10 games for Colorado, but the team did not make it to the playoffs that year.
FC Dallas
On January 26, 2016, Figueroa was traded to FC Dallas. He played his first game for FC Dallas on March 6, helping them win 2–0. Figueroa scored his first goal for Dallas on August 4 in the CONCACAF Champions League. He helped Dallas win the 2016 U.S. Open Cup by playing in the quarter-finals, semi-final, and final. He also played in 28 MLS games, helping Dallas win the Supporters' Shield.
In 2017, Figueroa scored his first MLS goal for Dallas on April 22. He scored his second league goal on August 23 in a 3–3 draw against the Houston Dynamo. On August 27, he scored against his former team, Colorado, helping Dallas win 2–0. Dallas finished 7th in their conference and missed the playoffs in 2017.
In 2018, Figueroa played a smaller role, making 20 appearances. He scored one goal on August 18. He helped Dallas return to the playoffs that year. His contract with Dallas ended on November 26.
Houston Dynamo
On January 30, 2019, Figueroa signed with Houston Dynamo. He made his debut for the Dynamo on February 19, 2019, in a CONCACAF Champions League game. He played 4 games in the Champions League as the Dynamo reached the quarter-finals. He played his first league game for the Dynamo on March 2. Figueroa played 25 league games in his first season in Houston.
In the 2020 season, Figueroa scored his first goal for the Dynamo on September 19. He scored again on September 26, helping the Dynamo draw 1–1. He played in 20 games and scored 2 goals in a season that was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dynamo did not make the playoffs that year.
Figueroa signed a new contract with Houston on February 10, 2021. He played as a backup centre-back, making 13 appearances. The Dynamo had another tough season and missed the playoffs again. After the 2021 season, Figueroa's contract with Houston ended.
International Career
Maynor Figueroa started playing for the Honduras national team in 2003. He played in many important tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021. He also played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Figueroa also represented Honduras at younger age levels, playing for the U-20 and U-23 teams. He joined the U-23 team as an older player for the 2012 Summer Olympics. He has played over 180 games for Honduras, which is the most for any Honduran player. He scored five goals for his country and was the team captain from 2014 until 2022. In June 2021, Figueroa led Honduras to the finals of the first CONCACAF Nations League tournament. Honduras finished in third place after winning a penalty shootout against Costa Rica.
Personal Life
Maynor Figueroa is married to Sandra Norales, who is a handball player. She has represented Honduras in handball. They have two sons and one daughter. One of their sons, Keyrol, plays football for the Liverpool Academy.
Figueroa is of Garifuna heritage. He is good friends with his former teammate Boniek García. In 2020, Figueroa received his U.S. green card. This meant he was considered a local player for MLS teams.
Honours and Achievements
Olimpia
- Liga Nacional: 2003–04 Clausura, 2004–05 Clausura, 2005–06 Apertura, 2005–06 Clausura
Wigan Athletic
- FA Cup: 2012–13
Hull City
- FA Cup runner-up: 2013–14
FC Dallas
- U.S. Open Cup: 2016
- Supporters' Shield: 2016
Honduras
- CONCACAF Nations League third place: 2021
Images for kids
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Figueroa playing for FC Dallas in 2017
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Figueroa (right) playing for Hull City in 2014
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Duckens Nazon of Haiti against Figueroa in the Gold Cup, Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas, 13 July 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Maynor Figueroa para niños
