Wikipedia

Nacho Monreal

Ignacio "Nacho" Monreal Eraso (Spanish pronunciation: [iɣˈnaθjo monreˈal eˈɾaso] or pronounced [ˈnatʃo monreˈal]; born 26 February 1986) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a left-back or centre-back.

Nacho Monreal
Monreal warming up with Arsenal in 2015
Personal information
Full name Ignacio Monreal Eraso[1]
Date of birth (1986-02-26) 26 February 1986 (age 40)[2]
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position Defender
Youth career
Pamplona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Osasuna B 36 (3)
2006–2011 Osasuna 127 (3)
2011–2013 Málaga 45 (1)
2013–2019 Arsenal 187 (7)
2019–2022 Real Sociedad 55 (3)
Total 450 (17)
International career
2004–2005 Spain U19 4 (0)
2007–2009 Spain U21 9 (0)
2009–2018 Spain 22 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Spain
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up2013 Brazil
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

He started playing with Osasuna in 2005, going on to appear in 144 official games over the course of five La Liga seasons.[4] In 2011 he signed with Málaga and, two years later, joined Arsenal where he won three FA Cup trophies while taking part in 251 matches in all competitions.[5] He ended his career in 2022 with Real Sociedad, winning the 2019–20 Copa del Rey.

A full international from 2009 to 2018, Monreal represented Spain at the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup.

Club career

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Osasuna

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Monreal in action for Osasuna in 2010

Born in Pamplona, Monreal was a product of Osasuna's youth system and made his official debut for his hometown club in an away game against Valencia on 22 October 2006, a 1–0 La Liga loss.[6] He finished his first season with ten league appearances, adding two in that campaign's UEFA Champions League; after the Navarrese's relegation to the UEFA Cup, he appeared in four matches as the team reached the last four, being eliminated by fellow Spaniards Sevilla.[7]

Monreal became first-choice in 2007–08, retaining that status in the subsequent seasons, with another youth product, César Azpilicueta, being the undisputed starter in the other defensive wing.[8]

Málaga

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On 10 June 2011, Monreal signed a five-year contract with Málaga on a €6 million transfer fee.[9] In his first season, he initially battled for first-choice status with Eliseu, but ended up only missing seven games as the club finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.[10]

Monreal scored his only goal for the Andalusians on 27 January 2013, in a 3–2 away win over Mallorca.[11]

Arsenal

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Monreal marking Florian Thauvin during a Champions League match against Marseille in November 2013

On 31 January 2013, Monreal joined English side Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, believed by Sky Sports to be around £8.5 million.[12][13] He was given the number 17 shirt,[14] and made his Premier League debut against Stoke City two days later in a 1–0 home win.[15][16]

On 23 February 2013, Monreal provided the assist for countryman Santi Cazorla to score the winner in a 2–1 victory over Aston Villa.[17] He scored his first goal for the Gunners on 16 March, opening a 2–0 win at Swansea City.[18]

Monreal returned from injury[19] on 21 August 2013 to feature in Arsenal's 3–0 win at Fenerbahçe in the Champions League group stage play-off, playing the last three minutes in the place of Theo Walcott.[20] On 26 September, he scored the deciding penalty in a shootout against West Bromwich Albion to send his team into the fourth round of the League Cup.[21]

Upon the arrival of Alexis Sánchez in the 2014 off-season, Monreal took the vacant number 18 previously worn by Sébastien Squillaci. On 23 August, he assisted Olivier Giroud's late equaliser in a 2–2 draw against Everton.[22] Additionally, an injury crisis in the squad saw him being deployed in an unfamiliar central defender role in a string of games, after Laurent Koscielny was put out of action due to an Achilles tendon injury.[23]

On 9 March 2015, Monreal scored the opening goal in a 2–1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford that put Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.[24] He played the full 90 minutes in the decisive match, a 4–0 defeat of Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.[25]

On 19 January 2016, Monreal signed a new long-term contract.[26] On 23 April 2017, he scored the vital equaliser as his team came from behind to defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.[27]

On 6 November 2017, after good performances on the left side of a three-man defence,[28] Monreal won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Month award for October of that year.[29] The following 20 January, he netted once and made two assists before retiring injured 30 minutes into an eventual 4–1 home win against Crystal Palace.[30]

Real Sociedad

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Monreal returned to Spain on 31 August 2019, with the 33-year-old joining Real Sociedad on a two-year contract.[31] He scored on his competitive debut two weeks later, converting an easy tap-in at the hour mark of an eventual 2–0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Anoeta Stadium.[32]

Monreal missed the entire 2021–22 season, due to a knee injury.[33] On 23 May 2022, the club announced his departure.[34]

On 16 August 2022, Monreal announced his retirement at 36.[35]

International career

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Monreal taking on Chile's Eduardo Vargas in a 2013 friendly

In 2007, Monreal earned his first call for the Spain under-21 team. He started all their matches in the 2009 UEFA European Championship, in an eventual group-stage exit.[36]

On 6 August 2009, Monreal was called up to the senior side for the first time, for an exhibition game with Macedonia.[37] He played the last 15 minutes for Joan Capdevila in a 3–2 away win;[38] on 7 September 2010, in the nation's second game after they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he featured the entire 4–1 friendly loss to Argentina.[39]

Monreal was a member of Spain's squad which reached the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, although he was second-choice left-back behind FC Barcelona's Jordi Alba. He started in the last two group games, beginning with a 10–0 thrashing of Tahiti at the Maracanã where he set up a David Villa goal.[40]

Monreal scored his only goal for Spain on 12 November 2016, contributing to a 4–0 defeat of Macedonia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Granada.[41] He was then selected by manager Julen Lopetegui for the finals in Russia.[42]

Style of play

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Upon signing with Arsenal in 2013, the club's manager Arsène Wenger described Monreal as "a strong left-sided defender with good experience at both club and international level. He is a technically gifted player, a good crosser in the final third and strong in the air."[43] Although he usually played as a defensive–minded left-back in a four-man back-line, he was also capable of playing as a centre-back or even as a left-sided defender in a back three.[44][45]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[46][47]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Osasuna B 2004–05 Segunda División B 1000———10
2005–06 35300———353
Total 36300—00—363
Osasuna 2006–07 La Liga 10030—6[c]0—190
2007–08 27100———271
2008–09 28010———290
2009–10 31160———371
2010–11 31110———321
Total 1273110—60—1443
Málaga 2011–12 La Liga 31020———330
2012–13 14130—4[c]0—211
Total 45150—40—541
Arsenal 2012–13 Premier League 10110———111
2013–14 23030208[c]0—360
2014–15 28041006[c]01[d]0391
2015–16 37010006[c]01[d]0450
2016–17 36041003[c]0—431
2017–18 28500207[e]11[d]0386
2018–19 221002012[e]0—361
2019–20 30000000—30
Total 1877132604213025110
Real Sociedad 2019–20 La Liga 2925[f]0———342
2020–21 26110—7[e]11[g]0352
2021–22 0000—00—00
Total 55360—7110694
Career total 45017352605924055421
  1. ↑ Includes Copa del Rey, FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Football League/EFL Cup
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. 1 2 3 Appearance in FA Community Shield
  5. 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
  7. ↑ Appearance in Supercopa de España

International

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National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain[48] 200920
201020
201110
201240
201370
201400
201500
201621
201730
201810
Total221
Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Monreal goal.[48]
List of international goals scored by Nacho Monreal
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 November 2016Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain Macedonia3–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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References

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  1. ↑ "Acta del partido celebrado el 27 de enero de 2013, en Palma de Mallorca" [Minutes of the match held on 27 January 2013, in Palma de Mallorca] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 18 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "Nacho Monreal: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. ↑ "Nacho Monreal Eraso". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. ↑ "El navarro Nacho Monreal ya está en San Sebastián para jugar con la Real Sociedad hasta el año 2021" [Navarre's own Nacho Monreal is already in San Sebastián to play with Real Sociedad until the year 2021]. Okdiario (in Spanish). 1 September 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Monreal leaves Arsenal for Real Sociedad". Business Standard. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Valencia 1–0 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 22 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "El Sevilla impone su ley" [Sevilla lay down the law]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 4 May 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Hayward, Ben (2 February 2013). "Monreal y Azpilicueta, dos amigos que vuelven a reunirse en Londres" [Monreal and Azpilicueta, two friends that reunite in London] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Ballesteros, Jesús (10 June 2011). "Monreal jugará en el Málaga las próximas cinco temporadas" [Monreal will play with Málaga in next four seasons]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  10. ↑ "Eliseu y Monreal, dos puñales menos" [Eliseu and Monreal, two daggers less]. Málaga Hoy (in Spanish). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Mallorca stung by 10-man Malaga". ESPN FC. 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  12. ↑ "Arsenal sign Spain international left-back Nacho Monreal from Malaga". Sky Sports. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  13. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (1 February 2013). "Arsenal swoop late to sign Nacho Monreal from Málaga in £8.5m deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Nacho Monreal agrees to join Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Team news: Monreal handed start on Arsenal debut against Stoke City". Goal. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  16. ↑ Johnston, Neil (2 February 2013). "Arsenal 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  17. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (23 February 2013). "Arsenal 2–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  18. ↑ Williams, Aled (16 March 2013). "Swansea 0–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  19. ↑ "Team news: Gibbs, Sagna, Monreal, the Ox". Arsenal F.C. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "Fenerbahçe 0–3 Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Capital One Cup third round: Arsenal win penalty shootout after 1–1 draw with WBA". Sky Sports. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  22. ↑ Wilson, Paul (23 August 2014). "Olivier Giroud rescues a point after Arsenal show backbone at Everton". The Observer. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  23. ↑ Yeend, Simon (29 November 2013). "Arsene Wenger rules out move for centre-back... says he's happy with Nacho Monreal". Daily Express. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  24. ↑ McNulty, Phil (9 March 2015). "Manchester United 1–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  25. ↑ McNulty, Phil (30 May 2015). "Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  26. ↑ Jones, Max (19 January 2016). "Monreal signs new long-term contract". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  27. ↑ Steinberg, Jacob (23 April 2017). "Arsenal 2–1 Manchester City: FA Cup semi-final – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  28. ↑ Brewin, Joe (11 August 2017). "Premier League: 5 big talking points from Arsenal 4–3 Leicester". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  29. 1 2 "Nacho Monreal wins October's PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans' Player of the Month". Professional Footballers' Association. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  30. ↑ Mangan, Andrew (20 January 2018). "Monreal's creative cameo sets up emphatic Arsenal win vs. Palace". ESPN FC. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  31. ↑ "Agreement for the transfer of Monreal". Real Sociedad. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  32. ↑ McTear, Euan (14 September 2019). "Real Sociedad hand Atletico their first setback of the season". Marca. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  33. ↑ "Monreal, cerca de reaparecer aunque Alguacil no pone fecha a su retorno" [Monreal, close to reappearing even though Alguacil is not setting a return date]. Diario de Navarra (in Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  34. ↑ Barreto, Beñat (23 May 2022). "Nacho Monreal no seguirá en la Real Sociedad" [Nacho Monreal will not continue at Real Sociedad]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  35. ↑ "Nacho Monreal anuncia su retirada: "Mi rodilla me manda un mensaje, no doy para más"" [Nacho Monreal announces his retirement: "My knee is sending me a message, i've gone as far as I could"]. Naiz (in Spanish). 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  36. ↑ Melero, Delfín (22 June 2009). "Una despedida definitiva" [Final goodbye]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  37. ↑ "Monreal: "Esta oportunidad es algo mágico para mí"" [Monreal: "This is a magical opportunity for me"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 6 August 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  38. ↑ "Crónica del Macedonia-España: 2–3" [Macedonia-Spain match report: 2–3.] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  39. ↑ "Crónica del Argentina – España, 4–1" [Argentina – Spain match report, 4–1] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  40. ↑ Magowan, Alistair (20 June 2013). "Spain 10–0 Tahiti". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  41. ↑ Bell, Arch (12 November 2016). "Spain march past Macedonia". Marca. Madrid. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  42. ↑ Maston, Tom (21 May 2018). "Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  43. ↑ Ornstein, David (31 January 2013). "Nacho Monreal: Arsenal sign Malaga & Spain left-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  44. ↑ Harris, Chris (23 July 2019). "Monreal – A leadership role is what I want". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  45. ↑ "Arsenal players ranked and rated – in pictures". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  46. ↑ Nacho Monreal at BDFutbol Edit this at Wikidata
  47. 1 2 Nacho Monreal at Soccerway
  48. 1 2 Nacho Monreal at EU-Football.info (archive)
  49. ↑ McNulty, Phil (17 May 2014). "Arsenal 3–2 Hull City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  50. ↑ McNulty, Phil (30 May 2015). "Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  51. ↑ McNulty, Phil (27 May 2017). "Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  52. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (10 August 2014). "Arsenal 3–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  53. ↑ Cryer, Andy (2 August 2015). "Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  54. ↑ Rostance, Tom (6 August 2017). "Arsenal 1–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  55. ↑ McNulty, Phil (25 February 2018). "Arsenal 0–3 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  56. ↑ Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  57. ↑ Reidy, Paul (3 April 2021). "Athletic Club 0–1 Real Sociedad: result, summary, goal". Diario AS. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  58. ↑ Lowe, Sid (3 April 2021). "Real Sociedad beat Athletic to claim Copa del Rey and Basque glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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