Manu Molina

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Molina and the second or maternal family name is Valero.
Manu Molina
Personal information
Full name Manuel Antonio Molina Valero
Date of birth (1991-11-20) 20 November 1991 (age 33)[1]
Place of birth Huelva, Spain
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Málaga
Number 12
Youth career
Recreativo
2006–2009 Espanyol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Espanyol B 41 (4)
2010–2012 Espanyol 7 (0)
2011–2012 → Huesca (loan) 23 (1)
2012–2014 Valencia B 71 (13)
2014–2016 Recreativo 62 (4)
2016–2017 Deportivo B 26 (5)
2017–2018 Lleida Esportiu 30 (1)
2018–2019 Salamanca 32 (2)
2019–2020 Linense 28 (3)
2020–2022 Ibiza 58 (0)
2022–2023 Zaragoza 25 (0)
2023– Málaga 38 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:49, 19 October 2024 (UTC)

Manuel "Manu" Antonio Molina Valero (born 20 November 1991) is a Spanish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Segunda División club Málaga.

Club career

Born in Huelva, Andalusia, Molina was a product of his local club Recreativo de Huelva youth system. After completing his development at RCD Espanyol, he made his first-team debut at only 18, playing the last minute of the 3–1 La Liga home win over Getafe CF on 29 August 2010.[2][3] One month later, he started and finished the match at Real Madrid, but in a 3–0 loss.[4]

Molina was loaned to SD Huesca of Segunda División for the 2011–12 season.[5] He scored his first goal for the Aragonese on 17 September 2011, in a 3–3 home draw against CD Alcoyano.[6]

In the following campaigns, Molina represented a host of sides in the Segunda División B.[7][8] The exception to this was 2014–15, when he appeared in the second tier with Recreativo.[9]

Molina returned to the professional leagues in the 2021–22 season, after achieving promotion with UD Ibiza.[10] In the second division, he later was a part of Real Zaragoza[11] and Málaga CF.[12][3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Molina" (in Spanish). Diario AS. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  2. ^ Dani double for Espanyol; ESPN Soccernet, 29 August 2010
  3. ^ a b Manu Molina: “Descender y después ascender en un año fue una hazaña” (Manu Molina: "To be relegated and then promote in one year was an exploit"); Diario AS, 10 October 2024 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Madrid cruise to win; ESPN Soccernet, 21 September 2010
  5. ^ Manu Molina, otro fichaje para el Huesca (Manu Molina, another signing for Huesca); Diario del AltoAragón, 7 July 2011 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Empate de locos en El Alcoraz (Crazy draw at El Alcoraz); Marca, 17 September 2011 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Manu Molina ficha por el Salmantino y crea un nuevo derbi onubense (Manu Molina signs for Salmantino and creates new Huelva derby); Diario de Huelva, 25 August 2018 (in Spanish)
  8. ^ La UD Ibiza ficha a Manu Molina (UD Ibiza sign Manu Molina); Periódico de Ibiza, 23 August 2020 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ Manu Molina regresa al Recreativo ocho años después (Manu Molina returns to Recreativo eight years later); Estadio Deportivo, 18 August 2014 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Manu Molina no continuará en la UD Ibiza (Manu Molina will not remain at UD Ibiza); Diario AS, 24 May 2022 (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Oficial: Manu Molina dice adiós al Real Zaragoza (Official: Manu Molina says goodbye to Real Zaragoza); El Desmarque, 19 August 2023 (in Spanish)
  12. ^ El onubense Manu Molina asciende con el Málaga a Segunda División (Huelva-born Manu Molina promotes with Málaga to Segunda División); Huelva Información, 23 June 2024 (in Spanish)