Michael Barrantes facts for kids
Barrantes playing for Saprissa in 2018
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Barrantes Rojas | ||
| Date of birth | 4 October 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.77 m | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Puntarenas | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004 | Ramonense | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004 | Ramonense | 11 | (2) |
| 2004–2005 | Belén | 19 | (5) |
| 2005–2007 | Puntarenas | 49 | (1) |
| 2007–2010 | Deportivo Saprissa | 90 | (7) |
| 2010 | → Aalesund (loan) | 7 | (2) |
| 2011–2015 | Aalesund | 115 | (31) |
| 2015 | Shanghai Shenxin | 13 | (4) |
| 2016 | Wuhan Zall | 26 | (4) |
| 2017 | Cartaginés | 12 | (0) |
| 2017 | Grecia | 19 | (4) |
| 2018–2021 | Saprissa | 143 | (14) |
| 2022-2023 | Cartaginés | 7 | (4) |
| 2023-2024 | Alajuelense | 40 | (4) |
| 2024- | Puntarenas | 11 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 2007–2015 | Costa Rica | 54 | (4) |
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Michael Barrantes Rojas, born on October 4, 1983, is a professional football player from Costa Rica. He plays as a midfielder for Puntarenas. In 2011, he scored two goals in the Norwegian Cup Final for his team, Aalesund. They won 2–1 against Brann, and he was named the best player of the match. He also won the Kniksen award as the best midfielder in the Norwegian league that year.
Contents
Michael Barrantes' Football Journey
Starting His Club Career
Michael Barrantes began his professional football career in 2003 with A.D. Belén in Costa Rica. Later, he joined Puntarenas F.C. for two seasons. In 2007, he moved to Deportivo Saprissa, another big team in Costa Rica.
Winning with Saprissa
With Saprissa, Barrantes helped his team win the 2008 league title. He scored the winning goal in the final playoff match against LD Alajuelense. This was a very important moment for his team.
Playing in Norway: Aalesunds FK
In July 2010, Barrantes went to Norway to play for Aalesunds FK. He joined the team on a loan, meaning he was playing for them temporarily. Another Costa Rican player, Pablo Herrera, was already there.
Adjusting to European Football
At first, it was a bit tricky for Barrantes to get used to the European style of play. But he quickly became a favorite with his teammates and coaches. The club liked him so much that they decided to sign him permanently, making his move official.
Becoming a Star Midfielder
The 2011 season was much better for Barrantes. He became a key player in Aalesunds' midfield. People praised his skills, and he helped his team win important games. He was even named "Man of the Match" in four games in a row. The local newspaper called him the "King of the midfield."
He helped Aalesunds reach the playoffs for the Europa League. The biggest highlight was winning the domestic cup. Aalesunds beat SK Brann 2–1 in the final, and Barrantes scored both goals. At the end of the season, he was named "Midfielder of the Year" in Norway, even though he didn't speak Norwegian or English!
Challenges and Captaincy
In 2012, other teams started to know his playing style, making it harder for him to dominate every game. He also had an injury that affected his performance. However, he was given the honor of being team captain for the first time in a match against Strømsgodset IF. He continued to score important goals, including two against SK Brann and two more against Fredrikstad FK.
Playing in China
After his time in Norway, Michael Barrantes moved to China. In June 2015, he signed with Shanghai Shenxin. The next year, in January 2016, he moved to another Chinese team, Wuhan Zall.
Playing for Costa Rica
Michael Barrantes also played for his home country, the Costa Rica national team. He first played for them in February 2007. He played in 54 international games and scored four goals for his country. He represented Costa Rica in many important matches, including FIFA World Cup qualification games and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2007 and 2013.
Career Statistics
Club Performance
This table shows how many games Michael Barrantes played and how many goals he scored for Aalesunds FK.
| Season | Club | Division | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2010 | Aalesund | Tippeligaen | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| 2011 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 17 | ||
| 2012 | 28 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 10 | ||
| 2013 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 7 | ||
| 2014 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 8 | ||
| 2015 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | ||
| Career Total | 122 | 33 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 147 | 47 | ||
International Goals
Here are the goals Michael Barrantes scored for the Costa Rica national team.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 January 2010 | Estadio Ingeniero Hilario Sánchez, San Juan, Argentina |  Argentina |
1–1 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 2 | 3 September 2010 | Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama |  Panama |
1–0 | 2–2 | |
| 3 | 9 July 2013 | Jeld-Wen Field, Portland, United States |  Cuba |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | 3–0 |
Personal Life
Michael Barrantes lives with his wife, Andrea. In 2012, they announced they were going to have a baby. Their son, named Arjen (after the famous Dutch player Arjen Robben), was born in February 2013 in Ålesund, Norway.
Awards and Achievements
Club Trophies
- Saprissa
- Liga FPD:
- Apertura 2008
- Clausura 2010
- Clausura 2018
- Clausura 2020
- Clausura 2021
- CONCACAF League: 2019
- Aalesund
- Norwegian Football Cup: 2011
International Trophies
- Costa Rica
- Copa Centroamericana: 2007
Individual Awards
- Norwegian Midfielder of the Year: 2011
See also
In Spanish: Michael Barrantes para niños
