Miguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá
Encyclopedia
Miguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá (born 19 June 1986) is a Spanish
footballer who plays for Sporting de Gijón
in La Liga
.
A versatile midfield element, he can play both in the wings and behind the forwards, but usually occupies the attacking midfielder position.
, Valencian Community
, de las Cuevas started his professional career with hometown Hércules CF
, in the third division
. In the 2004–05 season, he was instrumental as the Valencian
outfit achieved promotion to the second level
after a six year-absence.
In 2006–07, de las Cuevas signed with Atlético de Madrid. During preseason, on 13 August, in the Teresa Herrera Trophy
match versus Nacional de Montevideo
, he suffered a serious ankle
injury that kept him out of action for more than one year.
On 12 December 2007, de las Cuevas finally made his debut for the Colchoneros, playing the second half in a Spanish Cup
away match against Granada 74 CF
, in the round of 32. He appeared in 13 La Liga
games with the club in his first season after returning from injury, 12 as a substitute.
On 25 June 2009, after producing slightly the same numbers with Atlético, de las Cuevas moved to fellow top level outfit Sporting de Gijón
on a four-year deal. However, Atlético retained an option to rebuy in the first three. He had a breakthrough season in 2009–10
, ranking second in goals in the team; highlights included braces against RCD Mallorca
(4–1), Athletic Bilbao
(2–1, away) and one against former side Atlético (1–1), the goal that certified Sporting's permanence in the top flight for a further year, on 8 May 2010.
Still under manager Manuel Preciado, de las Cuevas was again an undisputed starter for Gijón in the 2010–11 season
. On 2 April 2011, he scored the only goal of the game in a win against Real Madrid
at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
, ending José Mourinho
's record of games unbeaten at home (nine years, 150 matches); he only missed one league match and added six goals, in another final escape from relegation.
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 plays for 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....
in 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...
.
A versatile midfield element, he can play both in the wings and behind the forwards, but usually occupies the attacking midfielder position.
Club career
Born in AlicanteAlicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, de las Cuevas started his professional career with hometown Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
, in the third division
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
. In the 2004–05 season, he was instrumental as the Valencian
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
outfit achieved promotion to the second level
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:...
after a six year-absence.
In 2006–07, de las Cuevas signed with Atlético de Madrid. During preseason, on 13 August, in the Teresa Herrera Trophy
Teresa Herrera Trophy
The Teresa Herrera Trophy is an annual pre-season football tournament hosted by Deportivo La Coruña at the Estadio Riazor.Established in 1946, it is the third oldest professional football tournament in Spain - behind the Trofeo Playa y Sol and the Copa San Pedro - and is considered one of...
match versus Nacional de Montevideo
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
, he suffered a serious ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury that kept him out of action for more than one year.
On 12 December 2007, de las Cuevas finally made his debut for the Colchoneros, playing the second half in a Spanish Cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
away match against Granada 74 CF
Granada 74 CF
Granada 74 Club de Fútbol, S.A.D., commonly known as Granada 74, is a Spanish football team based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
, in the round of 32. He appeared in 13 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...
games with the club in his first season after returning from injury, 12 as a substitute.
On 25 June 2009, after producing slightly the same numbers with Atlético, de las Cuevas moved to fellow top level outfit 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....
on a four-year deal. However, Atlético retained an option to rebuy in the first three. He had a breakthrough season in 2009–10
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;"|...
, ranking second in goals in the team; highlights included braces against RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
(4–1), Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
(2–1, away) and one against former side Atlético (1–1), the goal that certified Sporting's permanence in the top flight for a further year, on 8 May 2010.
Still under manager Manuel Preciado, de las Cuevas was again an undisputed starter for Gijón in the 2010–11 season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
. On 2 April 2011, he scored the only goal of the game in a win against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
The Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is an all-seater football stadium in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 and is owned by Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. It has a current capacity of 85,454 spectators....
, ending José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
's record of games unbeaten at home (nine years, 150 matches); he only missed one league match and added six goals, in another final escape from relegation.
Club statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/07 | Atlético Madrid |  Spanish LeagueLa 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... |
0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007/08 | Atlético Madrid | Spanish League 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... |
13 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008/09 | Atlético Madrid | Spanish League 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... |
11 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2009/10 | Sporting 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.... |
Spanish League 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... |
37 | 8 | 3 | |
| | Total | 61 | 8 | 4 | |||