Miguel Flaño Bezunartea (born 19 August 1984) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager.

Miguel Flaño
Personal information
Full name Miguel Flaño Bezunartea[1]
Date of birth (1984-08-19) 19 August 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain[1]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 12 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Osasuna B 70 (2)
2004–2019 Osasuna 309 (12)
2019 Córdoba 9 (0)
Total 388 (14)
International career
2001 Spain U16 7 (1)
2001 Spain U17 4 (0)
2002 Spain U19 1 (0)
2005 Spain U23 2 (0)
Managerial career
2021–2024 Osasuna (youth)
2024 Logroñés
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Spain
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winner 2001 England
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He represented Spain up to under-23 level, and spent the better part of his career with Osasuna, totalling 338 official appearances for the club in 15 years.[2]

Playing career

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Osasuna

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Flaño was born in Pamplona. A product of hometown CA Osasuna's youth ranks, he made his first-team debut on 18 September 2004 in a 3–2 La Liga home win against Real Betis,[3] finishing his debut season with seven games. Aged only 17, he began playing regularly with the reserves in the Segunda División B.

Flaño scored his first goal for the Navarrese on 9 June 2007, in the 5–0 away victory over Betis.[4] He added two appearances in the club's semi-final run in the UEFA Cup.

From then on, Flaño became an essential defensive fixture with the side as twin brother Javier, who had been a starter from 2005 to 2007, gradually lost his importance, leaving after the 2008–09 campaign,[5][6] where Miguel netted four times in 33 matches in an eventual narrow escape from relegation. He eventually renewed his contract in August 2009, running until 2013.[7]

Flaño again agreed to an extension at Osasuna on 7 June 2012, now until 2017.[8] In 2015–16, he started in all his 34 league appearances to help the club return to the top flight after a two-year absence.

In the early stages of the following season, both siblings suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament on their left knee, being sidelined for several months.[9] In the following years he was only a backup option, featuring rarely.[10]

Córdoba

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On 28 January 2019, the 34-year-old Flaño agreed to a short-term deal with Segunda División side Córdoba CF after terminating his contract.[11] After retiring later that year, he returned to Osasuna as a scout.[12]

Coaching career

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Flaño was appointed manager of Osasuna's youths in 2021.[2] On 24 June 2024, he became head coach of Segunda Federación side UD Logroñés,[13] being dismissed in November after only one win in the last six league matches.[14]

Personal life

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Flaño's twin brother, Javier, was also a footballer and a defender. Both were brought up at Osasuna.[15]

Honours

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Osasuna

Spain U16

Spain U23

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Miguel Flaño at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b Ciordia, Fernando (16 November 2021). "Míster Flaño" [Mister Flaño]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  3. ^ Monreal, Félix (19 September 2004). "Savo Milosevic vuelve a decidir para Osasuna" [Savo Milosevic decides for Osasuna again]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Real Betis 0–5 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 9 June 2007. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Javier Flaño: "Estoy muy agradecido a Osasuna"" [Javier Flaño: "I am most thankful to Osasuna"] (in Spanish). Navarra Sport. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  6. ^ Muerza, Alfonso (24 July 2014). "¡Vaya par de gemelos!" [What a set of twins!]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Miguel Flaño renueva con Osasuna tres años más" [Miguel Flaño renews with Osasuna for three further years]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 August 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Miguel Flaño renueva con el Osasuna hasta junio del 2017" [Miguel Flaño renews with Osasuna until June 2017]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 7 June 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Miguel Flaño, baja toda la temporada" [Miguel Flaño, out for the entire season]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  10. ^ Martínez, Jon (8 May 2018). "La vuelta de Miguel Flaño" [The return of Miguel Flaño] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Miguel Flaño, nuevo jugador del Córdoba Club de Fútbol" [Miguel Flaño, new player of Córdoba Club de Fútbol] (in Spanish). Córdoba CF. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Migue Flaño vuelve a Osasuna" [Migue Flaño returns to Osasuna]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 13 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Miguel Flaño, nuevo entrenador de la Unión Deportiva Logroñés" [Miguel Flaño, new manager of Unión Deportiva Logroñés] (in Spanish). UD Logroñés. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  14. ^ Domingos, Rubén (24 November 2024). "Sergio Rodríguez toma el relevo de Miguel Flaño" [Sergio Rodríguez takes over from Miguel Flaño] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  15. ^ Martínez de Zúñiga, Uxue (25 August 2005). "Los Flaño, una defensa de gemelos para Osasuna" [The Flaños, twin defenders for Osasuna]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Arrasate: "Le dábamos mucha importancia a ser campeones"" [Arrasate: "We were quite focused on being champions"] (in Spanish). Onda Cero. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  17. ^ Rosety, Manuel (25 April 2022). "El oro de Almería" [Gold of Almería]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2024.
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