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Manuel Almunia
Spanish footballer (born 1977) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Almunia and the second or maternal family name is Rivero.
Manuel Almunia Rivero (born 19 May 1977) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
![]() Almunia warming up for West Ham United in 2011 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Manuel Almunia Rivero[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1977-05-19) 19 May 1977 (age 47)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain[2] | ||
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper[4] | ||
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 |
Close
He competed mainly in the Spanish lower leagues in his early years, only appearing in 26 La Liga games over the course of two seasons with Recreativo and Albacete, after starting out at Osasuna. Most of his career was spent with Arsenal, for whom he signed in 2004, going on to play 175 official matches and winning the 2005 FA Cup.[5] He also had a short loan spell at West Ham United.
In 2012, after his contract expired, Almunia joined Watford and played there for two years, following which he retired on medical advice.