Manuel Almunia

Footballer

▸ Source: Wikidata

Manuel Almunia is a Spanish former professional footballer known for his role as a goalkeeper.

Almunia played as a goalkeeper throughout his professional career.

He joined Arsenal F.C. in 2004, where he became a key player for several seasons.

Based on: Wikidata

Biography

Early Life

Manuel Almunia Rivero was born in Pamplona, Navarre, Spain, where he began his journey in football. He started his senior career with CA Osasuna's reserves in 1995, spending four seasons in the Segunda División B. His early career also included stints at FC Cartagena and CE Sabadell FC, where he honed his skills as a goalkeeper.

Career

Almunia's professional career took off when he signed with RC Celta de Vigo in 2001, although he never played a match for them, as he was loaned to SD Eibar. During his time at Eibar, he won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in the Segunda División for the 2001–02 season. He later played for several clubs, including Recreativo de Huelva and Albacete Balompié, where he became a first-choice goalkeeper after stepping in for an injured teammate. In 2004, Almunia joined Arsenal F.C. for an undisclosed fee, initially serving as a backup to Jens Lehmann. He made his debut for Arsenal in a League Cup match against Manchester City and went on to have a significant impact at the club, contributing to their FA Cup victory in 2005 and reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2006.

Personal Life

Outside of football, Almunia has a keen interest in history, particularly the Second World War, and has visited various historical sites related to the conflict. He has also expressed a desire to represent England internationally, despite not having played for Spain at any level. Almunia's brother served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo, highlighting a family connection to service and duty.

Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed

Wikidata

Gallery

Career & Clubs

Club career

Early career

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Almunia started his senior career with CA Osasuna's reserves in 1995, going on to spend four seasons with the team in the Segunda División B. Subsequently, he stayed in the same level, where he represented FC Cartagonova and CE Sabadell FC. In the summer of 2001, Almunia first reached La Liga, after signing with RC Celta de Vigo. He never represented the club officially, however, being loaned to SD Eibar (where he won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy in the Segunda División for the 2001–02 campaign), Recreativo de Huelva and Albacete Balompié, the last two in the top flight. Playing understudy to José Antonio Luque and César at Recre, Almunia's debut in the Spanish top tier came on 17 November 2002, following a red card to the latter in a 3–0 away loss against Deportivo Alavés. It was one of only two league appearances during the season, as the Andalusians suffered relegation after ranking 18th. At Albacete Balompié, Almunia started as backup to Carlos Roa. However, after the Argentine came down with illness he became first-choice, going on to help his team easily escape relegation through a 14th-place finish; his first league appearance was on 9 November 2003, in a 1–0 home defeat to Málaga CF as Roa was suspended.

Arsenal

Almunia joined Arsenal on 14 July 2004 for an undisclosed sum, to provide backup to Jens Lehmann. He made his debut for his new team on 27 October in a 2–1 win at Manchester City in that season's League…

▸ Source: Wikipedia

International career

Almunia did not represent Spain at any level. He stated on more than one occasion his desire to play for England, only provided that he did not receive a call-up from his nation of birth first.

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Club: Centre d'Esports Sabadell Futbol Club (2000–2001)
Club: SD Eibar (2001–2002)
Club: Arsenal F.C. (2004–2012)
Club: Club Atlético Osasuna (1998–1999)
Club: Watford F.C. (2012–2014)
Club: West Ham United F.C. (2011–2011)
Club: Recreativo de Huelva (2002–2003)
Club: RC Celta de Vigo (2001–2004)
Club: Albacete Balompié (2003–2004)
Club: FC Cartagena (1999–2000)
Club: Osasuna B (1996–1999)
League: Premier League

Personal

Personal life

Almunia, whose brother served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo, has an interest in the Second World War and regularly visited sites associated with the conflict before European games with Arsenal.

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Legacy

Honours

Arsenal

FA Cup: 2004–05 FA Community Shield: 2004 Football League Cup runner-up: 2006–07, 2010–11 UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06 Individual

Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 2001–02 Segunda División

▸ Source: Wikipedia

Clubs

Played together with

Discussion

Opinions of fans — not verified facts.

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