Juan Ramón López Muñiz
Encyclopedia
Juan Ramón López Muñiz (born 2 November 1968) is a retired Spanish
footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager
.
, Asturias
. During his playing days, he represented hometown club Sporting de Gijón
(making his first team debuts in 1991–92, already at 23), Rayo Vallecano
(scoring four goals in 40 matches during 1998–99, which granted the Madrid
side La Liga
promotion via playoffs, even though they finished fifth) and CD Numancia
.
He retired after the 2001–02 season at the age of 33, as the Soria
club could only finish in 17th position in Segunda División
. In 11 years as a professional, Muñiz appeared in 333 games and scored ten goals (234/6 in the top division).
, and he subsequently returned to Málaga as the main manager for two seasons, achieving a runner-up place in 2007–08, thus promoting the Andalusia
outfit to the first division after a two-year hiatus.
In July 2008, he switched to fellow league team Racing de Santander
. At the season's end, however, he was released from contract, and promptly returned to Málaga, replacing Antonio Tapia
, who took over relegated neighbours Real Betis
.
In late June 2010, after leading Málaga to the 17th position, last above the relegation zone
, Muñiz was sacked. Shortly after, he rejoined Ramos at FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
in Ukraine
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Playing career
Muñiz was born in GijónGijón
Gijón , officially Gijón / Xixón, is a coastal industrial city and a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias in Spain. Early mediaeval texts mention it as "Gigia". It was an important regional Roman city, although the area has been settled since earliest history...
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
. During his playing days, he represented hometown club Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
(making his first team debuts in 1991–92, already at 23), Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
(scoring four goals in 40 matches during 1998–99, which granted the Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
side La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
promotion via playoffs, even though they finished fifth) and CD Numancia
CD Numancia
Club Deportivo Numancia de Soria, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Soria, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 9 April 1945, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Nuevo Estadio Los Pajaritos, with a 10,200-seat capacity.Besides football it has other...
.
He retired after the 2001–02 season at the age of 33, as the Soria
Soria
Soria is a city in north-central Spain, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile and León. , the municipality has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province...
club could only finish in 17th position in Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
. In 11 years as a professional, Muñiz appeared in 333 games and scored ten goals (234/6 in the top division).
Coaching career
Muñiz started as an assistant manager at Málaga in 2003, under Juande Ramos. His first head coach experience arrived in early 2006, with lowly UD MarbellaUD Marbella
Unión Deportiva Marbella is a Spanish football team based in Marbella, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1997, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 9, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Marbella, with a capacity of 9,000 seats....
, and he subsequently returned to Málaga as the main manager for two seasons, achieving a runner-up place in 2007–08, thus promoting the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
outfit to the first division after a two-year hiatus.
In July 2008, he switched to fellow league team Racing de Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
. At the season's end, however, he was released from contract, and promptly returned to Málaga, replacing Antonio Tapia
Antonio Tapia
Antonio Tapia Flores is a Spanish football manager.-Football career:Tapia had an unassuming career as a footballer, only representing Atlético Malagueño and amateurs UD Fuengirola...
, who took over relegated neighbours Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
.
In late June 2010, after leading Málaga to the 17th position, last above the relegation zone
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, Muñiz was sacked. Shortly after, he rejoined Ramos at FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Football Club Dnipro is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Dnipropetrovsk.-BRIT:The club's franchise traces its history all the way back when the first team that was formed in 1918 by the Petrovsky factory and was called as BRIT . The team participated in the regional competition...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.