Míchel (footballer, born 1988)


Miguel Alfonso Herrero Javaloyas, commonly known as Míchel, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Valladolid mainly as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Valencia

Born in Burjassot, Valencian Community, Míchel finished his football grooming at local Burjassot CF and started playing as a senior with Valencia CF's B-side. After a string of midfield injuries to the main squad he was called up by coach Unai Emery, making his La Liga debut against FC Barcelona, playing 20 minutes in a 0–4 away loss on 6 December 2008; previous to that, he had already appeared in a Copa del Rey game against Club Portugalete, where he also scored.
Míchel's first start occurred on 3 March 2009 in a 1–2 loss at CD Numancia, as he began to be regularly summoned to the league's squad of 18 each week. He was delighted with his first year at Valencia, never having imagined he would be playing for the club's first team after being not much earlier in the fourth division.

Loans / Levante

In early June 2010, deemed surplus to requirements by coach Emery – for instance, in the 2009–10 campaign he only collected 28 minutes in the league, all as a late substitute – Míchel was loaned for one season to fellow league club Deportivo de La Coruña. He spent most of the campaign injured, and the Galicians were also relegated after 20 straight years in the top flight.
At Hércules CF, where he spent the 2011–12 season, Míchel scored a career-best 13 goals, also being a key player as the team nearly returned to the top level. The club attempted to acquire the player permanently, but were eventually denied.
Míchel rescinded his contract with Valencia in June 2012, and signed a three-year deal with neighbouring Levante UD shortly after. He scored eight goals in 51 official games in his first and only season, including two in 11 in the campaign's UEFA Europa League.

Return to Valencia

On 10 May 2013 Míchel agreed on a return to former club Valencia, penning a three-year link after his €420,000 buyout clause was paid. He made his debut in his second spell on 17 August, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Málaga CF.
Míchel was loaned out to fellow league club Getafe CF in late July 2014, for two years.

Guangzhou R&F

On 18 December 2014, Míchel was sold to Guangzhou R&F F.C. in the Chinese Super League. He made his debut for his new team on 10 February of the following year, appearing in the second preliminary round of the AFC Champions League against Warriors FC.

Career statistics

Club