Mikel Merino
![]() Merino with Real Sociedad in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Mikel Merino Zazón[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [2] | 22 June 1996||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Pamplona, Spain[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Real Sociedad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amigó | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Osasuna | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Osasuna B | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2016 | Osasuna | 63 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2017 | Borussia Dortmund | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | → Newcastle United (loan) | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017–2018 | Newcastle United | 17 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2018– | Real Sociedad | 190 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | Spain U19 | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016–2019 | Spain U21 | 20 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2021 | Spain Olympic | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2020– | Spain | 27 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:20, 19 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:54, 9 July 2024 (UTC) |
Mikel Merino Zazón (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmikel meˈɾino]; born 22 June 1996) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Sociedad and the Spain national team.
After starting out at Osasuna, he went on to play for Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United and Real Sociedad.
Merino represented Spain in two European Under-21 Championships, winning the 2019 edition. He made his full debut in 2020, being selected for Euro 2024.
Club career
Osasuna
Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Merino began his career with CD Amigó, later moving to CA Osasuna.[3] He made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2013–14 season, in the Tercera División.[3]
On 23 August 2014, Merino made his first competitive appearance with the first team, starting in a 2–0 home win against FC Barcelona B in the Segunda División.[4] He scored his first professional goal on 21 December, the winner in a 2–1 away victory over UD Las Palmas.[5]
Merino was definitely promoted to the main squad on 31 January 2015, being awarded the number 8 jersey.[6] He was a regular starter in his first year, helping them to narrowly avoid relegation.[7]
In the 2015–16 campaign, Merino scored four goals from 34 appearances as Osasuna finished sixth and reached the promotion play-offs.[8] In that stage's first round, he netted a brace in a 3–1 home win against Gimnàstic de Tarragona,[9] and added another goal in the second leg (3–2 victory).[10]
Borussia Dortmund
On 15 February 2016, Merino signed a five-year deal with Borussia Dortmund, which was made effective on 1 July.[11] His first appearance in the Bundesliga occurred on 14 October, when he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw with Hertha BSC.[12]
Newcastle United
In July 2017, Merino joined Newcastle United on a season-long loan; the Premier League club agreed to a clause obligating them to sign the player permanently, based on a number of appearances.[13][14] On 13 October this was invoked, and he agreed to a five-year contract.[15]
Merino made 25 competitive appearances for the Magpies,[16] scoring once, a late header that was the only goal against Crystal Palace at St James' Park on 21 October 2017.[17] He also provided a sole assist.[16]
Real Sociedad
Merino returned to Spain on 12 July 2018, signing a five-year deal with Real Sociedad for an undisclosed fee[18] reported to be €12 million.[19] His first match in La Liga took place on 18 August when he played 59 minutes in a 2–1 win against hosts Villarreal CF,[20] and his first goal on 21 September won the game at SD Huesca.[21] Despite struggling initially to adapt to his new team, also dealing with some injury problems, he eventually became a starter,[22][23] scoring four times in 32 fixtures in his first season.[24]
On 7 March 2020, Merino wore the captain's armband for the first time in a 1–0 league defeat away to FC Barcelona.[25][26] In July, he renewed his contract until 2025.[27]
On 3 April 2021, Merino won his first title after playing the full 90 minutes of the 2020 Copa del Rey final – delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic – against Athletic Bilbao, assisting Portu who was brought down in the box at the hour mark; Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot for the only goal at the Estadio de La Cartuja, and Merino was chosen Player of the match.[28][29]
In the 2023–24 campaign, Merino won the most duels for possession in Europe's top leagues at 326.[30]
International career
Merino was part of the Spain under-19 team which won the 2015 UEFA European Championship in Greece. He scored their first goal of the tournament, opening a 3–0 win over holders Germany at the AEL FC Arena in Larissa.[31]
On 20 August 2020, Merino received his first call up to the senior side, for the initial two matches of the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League against Germany and Ukraine,[32] earning his first cap against the former on 3 September by replacing Sergio Busquets early into the second half of a 1–1 draw.[33] He scored his first goal on 12 September 2023, the second in an eventual 6–0 rout of Cyprus in a qualifier for UEFA Euro 2024 held in Granada.[34]
Merino was included in the squad for the Euro 2024 finals.[35] In the quarter-final against Germany in Stuttgart, he scored a header from a cross by Dani Olmo in the 119th minute to secure his nation a spot in the semi-finals;[36] his celebration after the goal (running around the corner flag) mirrored that of his father after he had done the same for Osasuna in a UEFA Cup fixture at the same stadium in 1991.[37]
Personal life
Merino's father, Ángel Miguel, was also a footballer. His career was also associated with Osasuna, as both a player and manager.[38]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 19 May 2024[39]
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Osasuna B | 2013–14 | Tercera División | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
Osasuna | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 1 | ||
2015–16 | Segunda División | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[b] | 3 | 38 | 7 | ||
Total | 63 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 3 | 67 | 8 | |||
Borussia Dortmund | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
Newcastle United (loan) | 2017–18 | Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
Newcastle United | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||
Total | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||||
Real Sociedad | 2018–19 | La Liga | 29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 4 | ||
2019–20 | La Liga | 36 | 5 | 7[c] | 1 | — | — | 43 | 6 | |||
2020–21 | La Liga | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 36 | 2 | |
2021–22 | La Liga | 34 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6[d] | 1 | — | 43 | 4 | ||
2022–23 | La Liga | 33 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7[d] | 0 | — | 43 | 3 | ||
2023–24 | La Liga | 32 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7[f] | 2 | — | 45 | 8 | ||
Total | 190 | 20 | 23 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 242 | 27 | ||
Career total | 290 | 26 | 25 | 4 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 348 | 36 |
- ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, Copa del Rey
- ^ Appearances in Segunda División play-offs
- ^ Includes appearance in 2020 Copa del Rey final (played in 2021)
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
International
- As of match played 9 July 2024[40]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Spain | 2020 | 6 | 0 |
2021 | 5 | 0 | |
2023 | 8 | 1 | |
2024 | 8 | 1 | |
Total | 27 | 2 |
- As of match played 5 July 2024
- Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Merino goal.[40]
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 September 2023 | Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | 17 | ![]() |
2–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
2 | 5 July 2024 | MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany | 26 | ![]() |
2–1 | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | UEFA Euro 2024 |
Honours
Borussia Dortmund
Real Sociedad
Spain U19
Spain U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2019;[43] runner-up: 2017[44]
Spain Olympic
- Summer Olympics silver medal: 2020[45]
Spain
- UEFA Nations League: 2022–23;[46] runner-up: 2020–21[47]
Individual
- La Liga Team of the Season: 2022–23[48]
- La Liga Play of the Month: March 2024 (with Mikel Oyarzabal)[49]
- Segunda División Player of the Month: June 2016[50]
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