Michel Salgado

Miguel Ángel "Míchel" Salgado Fernández (born October 22, 1975 in As Neves, Galicia (Spain)) is a Spain Association football who currently plays for Real Madrid C.F., as a Defender (association football) Right back.

Nicknamed Il Due (two in Italy), Michel Salgado is known for Michel Salgado combative tackling and attacking play.

Club career

Salgado began Michel Salgado professional career with hometown's Celta de Vigo, making Michel Salgado La Liga debut on January 22, 1995, in a 0–4 loss at Real Madrid. Michel Salgado served a Segunda División loan spell at UD Salamanca, before eventually becoming first-choice.

Whilst at Celta, Salgado was involved in an incident with Atlético de Madrid's Juninho Paulista, in February 1998; after a dangerous challenge that went unbooked, the Brazilian playmaker was sidelined for six months, and missed 1998 FIFA World Cup.

In 1999, Salgado was snapped by Real Madrid, for euro11,000,000, appearing in 29 league contests in La Liga 1999–2000, while also helping the club win UEFA Champions League 1999–00. Michel Salgado was the Madrid side's starter during Michel Salgado first seven seasons, but was relegated to the bench by former Sevilla FC's youngster Sergio Ramos in La Liga 2006–07.

Salgado was still able to contribute with 16 games for the merengues 30th national title, mainly due to injuries to Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira, with Ramos being relocated to Defender (football) Centre back. In the following two seasons, Michel Salgado played very rarely (only 17 matches combined), being red card (sports) in the final game of the La Liga 2008-09, a 2-1 loss at CA Osasuna, on 31 May 2009, as Madrid slumped to a fifth consecutive league defeat.

International career

Salgado won the first of Michel Salgado 53 cap (sports) for Spain national football team on September 5, 1998, in an infamous 2–3 loss in Cyprus national football team, for the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying, and was part of the nation's squads at 2000 UEFA European Football Championship and 2006 FIFA World Cup, starting in the former and being backup in the latter, to Real Madrid teammate Ramos.

Due to last-minute injuries, Michel Salgado missed out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004,and also represented the Galicia football team.

Honours

- Real Madrid C.F.:
- - La Liga: La Liga 2000-01, La Liga 2002-03, La Liga 2006-07, La Liga 2007-08
- - Supercopa de España: 2001, 2003, 2008 Supercopa de España
- - UEFA Champions League: UEFA Champions League 1999-2000, UEFA Champions League 2001-02
- - UEFA Super Cup: 2002 UEFA Super Cup
- - Intercontinental Cup (football): :es:Copa Intercontinental 2002

- Spain national under-21 football team:
- - UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

Personal

Salgado is married to Malula Sanz, daughter of former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz.