Manu Trigueros

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Trigueros and the second or maternal family name is Muñoz.
Manu Trigueros
Trigueros with Villarreal in 2021
Personal information
Full name Manuel Trigueros Muñoz[1]
Date of birth (1991-10-17) 17 October 1991 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Villarreal
Number 14
Youth career
Talavera
2007–2008 Barcelona
2008–2010 Murcia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Murcia B 10 (1)
2010–2011 Villarreal C 36 (6)
2011–2012 Villarreal B 26 (3)
2012– Villarreal 356 (25)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:49, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

Manuel Trigueros Muñoz (born 17 October 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Villarreal.

He spent his entire professional career with Villarreal, making a club record of over 450 total appearances and winning the UEFA Europa League in 2021.

Club career

Early career

Born in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Trigueros began playing football for his local team Talavera CF. While playing in a nationwide tournament for his autonomous community, he was courted by several leading clubs, and chose FC Barcelona; he struggled to be picked in his only year as an under-18 in La Masia.[2][3] He then moved to Real Murcia, making his senior debut with the reserves and being released in June 2010 following the main squad's relegation from the Segunda División.[4]

Villarreal

Subsequently, Trigueros signed for Villarreal CF, being assigned to the C team. He made his official debut with Villarreal B on 4 June 2011, playing 30 minutes as a substitute for Fofo in a 2–1 away loss against Real Betis on the last day of the second-tier season.[5] On 11 February 2012 he scored his first goal in a 3–1 defeat at CE Sabadell FC,[6] being relatively played during the season but suffering relegation – even though the side finished in 12th position – as the first team had also dropped down a level in La Liga.

In June 2012, Trigueros was definitely promoted to the main squad. He contributed 36 games and three goals[7][8][9] as the Yellow Submarine won instant promotion;[10] his 15th appearance activated a clause that paid €100,000 to Murcia.[11]

Trigueros made his maiden appearance in the top flight on 19 August 2013, coming on as a 53rd-minute substitute for Tomás Pina in 3–2 away victory over UD Almería.[12] As a starter, he scored his first goal in the competition, his team's second in the 3–1 home defeat of CA Osasuna on 3 February 2014.[13] That October, his contract was extended from 2017 to 2019;[14] in November 2016, a new deal tied him to the club until 2022.[15]

On 21 May 2017, Trigueros scored in a 3–1 win at local rivals Valencia CF on the last day of the season, securing fifth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League.[16] He netted his first in that continental competition on 19 October, as the team fought back for a 2–2 group stage draw with SK Slavia Prague at the Estadio de la Cerámica.[17] On 23 December, in another derby at Mestalla, he was sent off for the first time in his career in a 1–0 victory.[18]

Trigueros reached 300 matches for the club on 10 November 2019, in a 3–1 away loss against RCD Mallorca.[19] In March 2021, he entered Villarreal's top three appearance makers, overtaking Marcos Senna's 363 and trailing only his contemporaries Bruno Soriano and Mario Gaspar.[20][21] He played 14 times that season in their victorious Europa League campaign (54 in all competitions),[22][23] scoring the opening goal of a 2–1 semi-final win over Arsenal on 29 April.[24]

In November 2021, Trigueros' link to the club was lengthened to 2025, with him remaining a key part of manager Unai Emery's plans.[25] On 15 December, he made his 400th appearance for the club in a 7–1 rout of Atlético Sanluqueño CF in the second round of the Copa del Rey, trailing Bruno's overall record by just 25.[26] He took the record on 8 September 2022 in a 4–3 UEFA Europa Conference League group victory at home to Lech Poznań.[27]

In 2023–24, Trigueros was more often a substitute, as the managerial hotseat revolved between Quique Setién, Pacheta and Marcelino García Toral. On 2 November, playing as an attacking midfielder for the second of those coaches, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 5–0 win away to sixth-tier Chiclana CF in the first round of the cup.[28]

Personal life

Both of Trigueros' parents were teachers,[29] and he graduated in Primary Education in 2017.[30] While some sources erroneously named his alma mater as CEU San Pablo University, it was actually the Castellón de la Plana campus of a linked establishment, CEU Cardinal Herrera University.[31]

Trigueros' father, also named Manuel, played in the second tier for Granada CF.[29] His cousin Pablo, a defender, was also active at that level for SD Ponferradina.[32]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 June 2023[33][34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Copa del Rey Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Villarreal B 2010–11 Segunda División 1 0 — — — 1 0
2011–12 25 3 — — — 25 3
Total 26 3 — — — 26 3
Villarreal 2012–13 Segunda División 36 3 1 0 — — 37 3
2013–14 La Liga 35 2 3 0 — — 38 2
2014–15 33 1 7 2 10[a] 0 — 50 3
2015–16 31 2 2 1 12[a] 0 — 45 3
2016–17 37 5 3 1 5[b] 1 — 45 7
2017–18 34 3 3 0 7[a] 1 — 44 4
2018–19 24 0 3 0 7[a] 0 — 34 0
2019–20 29 2 2 0 — — 31 2
2020–21 35 1 5 0 14[a] 1 — 54 2
2021–22 35 6 2 1 9[c] 1 1[d] 0 47 8
2022–23 23 0 3 0 4[e] 1 — 30 1
Total 352 25 34 5 68 5 1 0 455 35
Career total 378 28 34 5 68 5 1 0 481 38
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Villarreal

Individual

  • UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2016–17[36]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Trigueros". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  2. ^ Torras, David (6 January 2017). "Trigueros, el aprendiz de Iniesta" [Trigueros, Iniesta's apprentice]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  3. ^ Sanpedro, Víctor (22 February 2022). "Manu Trigueros y un nuevo hito en su carrera" [Manu Trigueros and a new milestone in his career]. La Voz del Tajo (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  4. ^ "De joya de la cantera grana a crack en el 'submarino amarillo'" [From 'grana' youth system gem to yellow submarine star] (in Spanish). Sport Murcia. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  5. ^ "El Betis remonta y consigue el título de campeón de Segunda" [Betis come from behind and win Segunda title]. Marca (in Spanish). 4 June 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  6. ^ "El Sabadell supera al Villarreal B en una gran segunda parte" [Sabadell defeat Villarreal B in a great second half]. Marca (in Spanish). 11 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  7. ^ "El Villarreal no despega lejos de El Madrigal" [Villarreal do not take off away from El Madrigal]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 November 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  8. ^ "El Villarreal juega con el Racing en El Sardinero (0–3)" [Villarreal play with Racing at El Sardinero (0–3)]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 17 November 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Manu Trigueros salva al Villarreal de la derrota en la Nueva Condomina en el minuto 94 (1–1)" [Manu Trigueros saves Villarreal from defeat at the Nueva Condomina in the 94th-minute (1–1)] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  10. ^ "El talaverano Trigueros logra el ascenso a Primera División con el Villarreal CF" [Talavera's own Trigueros achieves promotion to Primera División with Villarreal CF]. La Voz de Talavera (in Spanish). 9 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  11. ^ Moreno, Ángela (2 December 2012). "Manu Trigueros deja cien mil euros en las arcas del Real Murcia" [Manu Trigueros leaves one hundred thousand euros in Real Murcia's coffers]. La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  12. ^ "Valiant Villarreal open with win". ESPN FC. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Perbet at the double". ESPN FC. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  14. ^ "El talaverano Trigueros amplía su contrato con Villarreal hasta 2019" [Talavera-born Trigueros extends his contract with Villarreal until 2019]. La Voz de Talavera (in Spanish). 16 October 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Villarreal CF valora y premia al talaverano Manu Trigueros con la ampliación de su contrato hasta 2022" [Villarreal CF value and reward Talavera-born Manu Trigueros with the extension of his contract until 2022]. La Voz de Talavera (in Spanish). 9 November 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Villarreal secure fifth place finish with Valencia win". Marca. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  17. ^ Rodríguez, M. Á. (19 October 2017). "Trigueros se estrena en el mejor momento" [Trigueros opens his account at the right moment]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  18. ^ "El Villarreal gana al Valencia y allana el camino del Barça hacia la Liga" [Villarreal beat Valencia and smoothen Barça's path to the league title] (in Spanish). Yahoo!. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Derrota en el partido 300 de Manu Trigueros" [Defeat in Manu Trigueros' 300th game]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 11 November 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Trigueros hace historia en el Villarreal" [Trigueros makes history at Villarreal]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 22 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Manu Trigueros es puja al podi de les llegendes grogues" [Manu Trigueros rises to the podium of yellow legends] (in Catalan). Notícies Dígitals. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Impecable camino del Villarreal a la final, sin derrotas y sin sufrir" [Immaculate Villarreal run to the final, without defeats and without suffering] (in Spanish). Castellón Plaza. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  23. ^ Jiménez, Maite (16 December 2021). "Manu Trigueros: la luz del 'submarino amarillo' hace historia en Villarreal" [Manu Trigueros: the light of the 'yellow submarine' makes history at Villarreal]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Villarreal 2–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ Franch, Víctor (11 November 2021). "El Villarreal renueva a Manu Trigueros hasta 2025" [Villarreal renew Manu Trigueros until 2025]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  26. ^ Franch, Víctor (15 December 2021). "Trigueros hace historia en el Villarreal" [Trigueros makes history at Villarreal]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  27. ^ Mateu, Ismael (8 September 2022). "Trigueros se convierte en el jugador con más partidos en la historia del Villarreal: 426" [Trigueros becomes the player with the most matches in the history of Villarreal: 426]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  28. ^ Chova, Edu (4 November 2023). "Un nuevo rol de Trigueros en el Villarreal" [Trigueros' new role at Villarreal]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  29. ^ a b Lowe, Sid (6 May 2021). "Villarreal's Manu Trigueros: 'A dressing room is harder than a classroom'". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  30. ^ Pérez Sierra, Alberto (6 July 2017). "Manu Trigueros se gradúa en Educación Primaria" [Manu Trigueros graduates in Primary Education]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ "El CEU reúne a deportistas de competición y expertos para abordar la relación entre educación y deporte" [CEU brings together competitive sportspeople and experts to address the relation between education and sport] (in Spanish). Castellón Información. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ^ Cardenal, Alejandro (13 August 2018). "El fútbol se lleva en la sangre" [Football is carried in the blood]. La Nueva Crónica (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  33. ^ Manu Trigueros at BDFutbol
  34. ^ Manu Trigueros at Soccerway
  35. ^ Stone, Simon (26 May 2021). "Villarreal 1–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Once ideal de LaLiga para UEFA: 4 del Madrid, 3 del Barça..." [UEFA's LaLiga All-Star XI: 4 from Madrid, 3 from Barça...]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2017.

External links

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