Manuel Almunia

Manuel Almunia Rivero (born 19 May 1977 in Pamplona, Navarre) is a Spanish Association football Goalkeeper (association football) who currently plays for Premier League club Arsenal F.C..

Club career

Early career

Almunia started Manuel Almunia senior career with CA Osasuna's reserve team in 1997, playing two seasons with the team in Segunda División B. Manuel Almunia went on to spend two more seasons in the category, with FC Cartagena and CE Sabadell FC, joining La Liga in La Liga 2001-02, with Real Club Celta de Vigo.

However, shortly after joining Celta, Almunia was loaned out to Segunda División side SD Eibar, where Manuel Almunia spent Segunda División 2001-02 as first-choice goalkeeper. During the 2002-03 season, Celta loaned Manuel Almunia out to first-division club Recreativo de Huelva, where Manuel Almunia played understudy to José Antonio Luque Ramírez and César Quesada, only making two league appearances. Almunia's debut in the first division came on 17 November 2002, following a red card (sports) to the latter, in a 0–3 defeat at Deportivo Alavés.

Manuel Almunia then returned to Celta, being loaned for the third and final time, now to Albacete Balompié on 1 November 2003. Manuel Almunia made Manuel Almunia club debut the following week, in a 1–0 loss at Málaga CF. Almunia achieved first-choice status, making a total of 24 league appearances until the end of the season, while helping Albacete La Liga 2003-04.

Arsenal

2004–05 season

Almunia signed for Arsenal F.C. for an undisclosed fee on 14 July 2004. Manuel Almunia made Manuel Almunia debut in a 2–1 Football League Cup win over Manchester City F.C. on 27 October 2004. Manuel Almunia played in all the Gunners competition matches that season, including the quarter-final against Manchester United F.C. on 1 December, where Manuel Almunia let a shot from David Bellion through Manuel Almunia hands after only 19 seconds, gifting Manuel Almunia the only goal of the game.

Nevertheless, Manuel Almunia went on to make Manuel Almunia Premier League debut in a 3–0 win against Birmingham City F.C. on 4 December 2004, and also made Manuel Almunia UEFA Champions League debut three days later in Arsenal's 5–1 win against Rosenborg BK. During Manuel Almunia time as Arsenal's second-choice goalkeeper, Almunia mostly played in Cup matches, where Manuel Almunia was able to show Manuel Almunia penalty-stopping abilities, including in a win over Sheffield United F.C. in the FA Cup 2004-05, where Manuel Almunia made two saves in a penalty shootout (football) after the game finished 0–0, taking the side to the quarter-finals, at which point Lehmann returned for the rest of the competition.

2005–06 season

Almunia did not make a single Premier League appearance for Arsenal during the FA Premier League 2005–06, but played in five of six matches in UEFA Champions League 2005-06. In the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final against FC Barcelona, Almunia started on the bench but came on as a substitute (football) after Jens Lehmann was sent off. Manuel Almunia made a crucial save early on, tipping a shot from Samuel Eto'o onto a post. However, Manuel Almunia could not keep Barcelona at bay. Late in the second half, Eto'o was put through and beat Almunia at Manuel Almunia near post to get the equaliser, and with 10 minutes left, Juliano Belletti poked the ball through Almunia's legs to score the winner.

2006–07 season

Almunia was a permanent fixture of Arsenal's FA Cup and League Cup runs in 2006–07 in English football, playing in the final as Arsenal lost to Chelsea F.C. 2-1. In Manuel Almunia only league appearance that season, deputising for an ill Lehmann at home to Liverpool F.C., Manuel Almunia kept a clean sheet in Arsenal's 3–0 win. Overall, Manuel Almunia seemed much improved from previous outings.

2007–08 season

Following an injury to Lehmann, as well as two high-profile mistakes made by Manuel Almunia in the previous two league matches against Fulham F.C. and Blackburn Rovers F.C., Almunia was in the starting line-up for Arsenal's third Premier League match of the Premier League 2007–08 season, against Manchester City. Almunia continued to deputise for Lehmann throughout September and October 2007, and Manuel Almunia performances during the two months allowed Manuel Almunia to abruptly become Arsène Wenger's first-choice goalkeeper at the expense of the Germany national football team. On 23 October 2007, Lehmann publicly showed Manuel Almunia anger by saying that Manuel Almunia would have to talk soon if Manuel Almunia manager did not let Manuel Almunia regain Manuel Almunia previous status.

Almunia continued winning over the fans with some high-level performances, with Manuel Almunia highlight being a penalty save from Robbie Keane in a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. at the Emirates Stadium, on 22 December 2007, helping Arsenal to win the match 2–1. On 3 April 2008, Almunia signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

2008–09 season

After Lehmann's departure to VfB Stuttgart during the summer of 2008, Almunia was given shirt number 1 (he previously wore 24) and started 2008–09 in English football as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia old shirt number being given to Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Manuel Almunia captain (football) the team for the first time, in the UEFA Champions League 2008–09 match against Fenerbahçe S.K, in a 5–2 away success. On Saturday the 15th of November Almunia made a save to deny Aston Villa's Ashley Young, yet again showing Manuel Almunia penalty-stopping abilities. Manuel Almunia captained the team for the second time in the following week against Manchester City after Gallas was stripped of Manuel Almunia captaincy. Almunia's penalty saving abilities again came into play partly in the Champions League game against Roma where it went to penalties after extra time in which Almunia saved one and Arsenal F.C. went on to win 7-6. In the Premier League on the 21st March away to Newcastle United F.C., Almunia saved a penalty on the 25th minute and Arsenal F.C. went on to win 3-1. After an impressive performance against Manchester United F.C. in the UEFA Champions League, Almunia was praised by Arsene Wenger who claims Almunia will one day represent Spanish national football team.

International career

Almunia has not played in any international matches, and stated on more than one occasion about Manuel Almunia wish to play for England national football team, but only provided that Manuel Almunia didn't receive a call-up from the Euro 2008 winning Spain national football team first. Almunia will qualify for British citizenship in July 2009 having spent five years residence in the United Kingdom. It has been reported that Manuel Almunia also qualifies for British citizenship as Manuel Almunia wife is English and Manuel Almunia can apply for British citizenship on July 14.

Honours

Club

- Arsenal FC
- - FA Cup: FA Cup 2004-05
- - FA Community Shield: FA Community Shield 2004
- - - Runner-up: 2005 FA Community Shield
- - UEFA Champions League
- - - Runner Up: UEFA Champions League 2005–06
- - Football League Cup
- - - Runner-up: 2007

Individual

- SD Eibar
- - Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 2001-2002