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Moisés Muñoz
MoiMunoz.jpg
Muñoz with América in 2016
Personal information
Full name Moisés Alberto Muñoz Rodríguez
Date of birth (1980-02-01) 1 February 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2010 Morelia 282 (0)
2006 Morelia Primera A 1 (0)
2010–2011 Atlante 53 (0)
2012–2016 América 175 (1)
2017 Chiapas (loan) 17 (0)
2017–2018 Puebla (loan) 28 (0)
Total 556 (1)
International career
2004–2017 Mexico 18 (0)
Medal record
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Moisés Alberto Muñoz Rodríguez (born on February 1, 1980) is a Mexican former professional football player. He was a talented goalkeeper.

Muñoz started his football journey in 1999 with Monarcas Morelia. He played over 200 matches for them. Later, in 2010, he joined Atlante. In 2011, he moved to Club América. With América, he achieved great success, winning two league titles and two CONCACAF Champions League titles. He also played for Chiapas and Puebla on loan before he retired in 2018.

He also played for the Mexican national team. His first game for Mexico was in 2004. He was part of the team that finished fourth in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Early Life and Education

Moisés Muñoz was born in Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico, on February 1, 1980. He spent some of his early years in Northern California. There, he went to elementary and junior high school in Redwood City. He learned to speak English very well during this time. Before high school, he returned to Mexico. By the age of 19, he was playing for his hometown club in Morelia.

Club Football Career

Playing for Morelia

Moisés Muñoz 2
Muñoz with Monarcas Morelia.

Moisés Muñoz played his first league game for Monarcas Morelia on September 19, 1999. This match was against Pachuca. At first, he was a backup goalkeeper. Morelia won the Invierno 2000 league tournament, which was their first league title. Muñoz did not play in any matches during that winning season.

He became a regular starter in the Apertura 2002 season. In that same season, Morelia reached the league final but lost to Toluca. The next season, he helped Morelia get to another league final, but they lost again, this time to Monterrey. Muñoz was from Morelia and became a very important player for the team. He played for eleven years, which is a long time for a goalkeeper in the league. He played in 282 matches before moving to Atlante in 2010.

Time with Atlante

For the Apertura 2010 tournament, Muñoz joined Atlante. He was traded for another goalkeeper, Federico Vilar. Muñoz quickly became a key player for Atlante. He played in 53 league games before he left the club in 2011.

Success with América

America Mexico 2016 (1)
Muñoz in 2016

On November 25, 2011, Muñoz joined Club América. In his first tournament with them, the Clausura 2012, he started in 21 games. He played almost every minute of those matches.

In May 2013, Muñoz played in his first league final with América. This was a very exciting game against Cruz Azul. In the second game of the final, América was losing. In the 88th minute, América scored to make it 1-1. Then, in the 92nd minute, Muñoz scored a goal with a diving header! This amazing goal sent the game into extra time, and then to a penalty shootout. Muñoz saved a penalty kick, and América won the shootout 4-2. They won their eleventh league title. Many people praised Muñoz for his incredible performance.

On October 1, 2016, Muñoz played his 500th league game. This match ended in a 1-1 draw against Monterrey.

International Football Career

Muñoz played his first international game for Mexico on October 27, 2004. It was a friendly match against Ecuador. He was the second-choice goalkeeper for Mexico in the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 Confederations Cup. Muñoz was the main goalkeeper during the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was considered for the 2006 FIFA World Cup team but did not make the final list.

After several years, Muñoz was called up again to the Mexican national team in 2013. He was part of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad. On July 14, 2013, he started as goalkeeper in Mexico's final group stage match against Martinique. Mexico won that game 3-1.

Later in 2013, Muñoz became the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup playoff matches against New Zealand. He played in both games, and Mexico won the playoff easily. However, he was not chosen for the final 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In June 2015, Muñoz was part of Mexico's team for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He wore the number 1 jersey for this tournament. In October 2015, he was also named to Mexico's squad for the 2015 CONCACAF Cup.

Life Outside Football

Family and Interests

Moisés Muñoz has family members who also play football. His cousin, Carlos Felipe Rodríguez, is also a goalkeeper. His brother, José Roberto Muñoz, is also a professional football player.

Muñoz once said that if he hadn't become a professional football player, he might have played basketball or American football.

On June 3, 2012, Muñoz was involved in a car accident. He was driving with his wife and two children when his car flipped over. They were all taken to the hospital. Luckily, his injuries were not life-threatening, and he recovered well. He later said that he had suffered a broken finger. After this event, Muñoz felt that he was meant to do something great. He then scored the tying goal in the Clausura 2013 Final, which was a very important moment.

Media Appearances

In 2015, Muñoz appeared on a Mexican TV show called La vecina. He also worked as a football analyst for Fox Sports during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Honours and Achievements

Morelia

América

Mexico

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Moisés Muñoz para niños

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