Iñaki Muñoz

Iñaki Muñoz Oroz (born 2 July 1978) is a Spanish retired footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Muñoz and the second or maternal family name is Oroz.
Iñaki Muñoz
Muñoz in 2008
Personal information
Full name Iñaki Muñoz Oroz
Date of birth (1978-07-02) 2 July 1978
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Osasuna
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Osasuna B 103 (15)
2000–2001 → Toledo (loan) 32 (3)
2000–2007 Osasuna 132 (11)
2007–2010 Athletic Bilbao 19 (0)
2010–2011 Cartagena 24 (2)
2011–2012 Salamanca 20 (2)
2013 Izarra 10 (0)
Total 340 (33)
National team
1996 Spain U18 2 (0)
2003–2005 Navarre 3 (1)
2006–2007 Basque Country 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He amassed La Liga totals of 150 matches and 11 goals over nine seasons, representing in the competition Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao.

Club career

Osasuna

Muñoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre. Except for a season-long loan to CD Toledo in the third division he played ten senior seasons with hometown's CA Osasuna, the first and the second teams combined. He made his La Liga debut with the former on 23 December 2001, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–1 home loss against Athletic Bilbao.[1]

Muñoz went on to become an important first-team member, appearing in 30 games during 2005–06 as the club finished fourth in the league and qualified to the UEFA Champions League while scoring five goals in as many wins, notably the winners at Deportivo de La Coruña and Atlético Madrid.[2][3] In the previous campaign's Copa del Rey, he netted five times in eight matches to help Osasuna reach the final of the competition, notably once in a 3–1 quarter-final home win against Sevilla FC (4–3 on aggregate).[4][5]

Athletic Bilbao

Muñoz switched west for 2007–08, moving to Basque neighbours Athletic Bilbao on a three-year contract.[6] He appeared sparingly during his first season, and even less in the second and third – his 2009–10 output consisted of 30 minutes against Deportivo, in the last matchday.[7][8]

Muñoz scored his only competitive goal for the side on 31 January 2008, in a 3–3 home draw to Racing de Santander for the Spanish Cup quarter-finals.[9]

Later years

In summer 2010, aged 32, free agent Muñoz signed with FC Cartagena in the second level.[10] He retired three years later, after lower league spells at UD Salamanca and CD Izarra.[11]

International career

Muñoz represented both the Basque[12][13][14] and Navarrese autonomous teams,[15][16][17] earning six caps in total.

References
  1. El Athletic, en estado de gracia, gana a un Osasuna sin pegada (Athletic, in a state of grace, beat punchless Osasuna); El País, 24 December 2001 (in Spanish)
  2. Deportivo La Coruña 0–1 Osasuna; ESPN Soccernet, 2 October 2005
  3. Atlético Madrid 0–1 Osasuna; ESPN Soccernet, 3 May 2006
  4. Iñaki Muñoz es el máximo goleador de esta Copa (Iñaki Muñoz is this Cup's top scorer); Diario AS, 11 June 2005 (in Spanish)
  5. Spain Cup Tournaments 2004/05; at RSSSF
  6. Iñaki Muñoz, presentado como nuevo jugador del Athletic de Bilbao (Iñaki Muñoz, presented as a new Athletic de Bilbao player); Cadena SER, 17 July 2007 (in Spanish)
  7. Iñaki Muñoz: "Soy el único que no ha tenido una oportunidad" (Iñaki Muñoz: "I am the only one who has not received an opportunity"); Marca, 11 February 2009 (in Spanish)
  8. Iñaki Muñoz se siente maltratado en el Athletic (Iñaki Muñoz feels mistreated at Athletic); Navarra Sport, 19 July 2009 (in Spanish)
  9. Crónica del Athletic Club – Racing de Santander, 3–3 (Athletic Club – Racing de Santander match report, 3–3); Europa Press, 31 January 2008 (in Spanish)
  10. Iñaki Muñoz ficha una temporada por el Cartagena (Iñaki Muñoz signs with Cartagena for one season); Canal Athletic, 27 July 2010 (in Spanish)
  11. Iñaki Muñoz firma por el Izarra (Iñaki Muñoz signs for Izarra); UD Salamanca, January 2013 (in Spanish)
  12. Basque XI 0–1 Wales; BBC Sport, 21 May 2006
  13. Catalunya y Euskadi igualan en una vistosa demostración (Catalonia and Basque Country draw in flashy display); El Mundo, 8 October 2006 (in Spanish)
  14. La selección de Euskadi obtiene una vibrante victoria frente a Venezuela (Basque Country national team get exciting win against Venezuela); El Correo, 21 June 2007 (in Spanish)
  15. Navarra, sin rival en su estreno como selección (Navarre, no opposition in their debut as national team); Diario AS, 28 December 2003 (in Spanish)
  16. Un penalti da el triunfo a Navarra ante Marruecos (Penalty gives Navarre win against Morocco); Diario AS, 30 December 2004 (in Spanish)
  17. Navarra vence con gol de Muñoz y perdona la goleada (Navarra win with goal from Muñoz and forgive routing); Diario AS, 26 December 2005 (in Spanish)
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