Mikel Alonso

Mikel Alonso Olano (Basque: [ˈmikel aˈlons̺o oˈlano], Spanish: [ˈmikel aˈlonso oˈlano]; born 17 May 1980) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder.

For the Spanish cyclist, see Mikel Alonso (cyclist).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Alonso and the second or maternal family name is Olano.

Mikel Alonso
Alonso in 2020
Personal information
Full name Mikel Alonso Olano
Date of birth (1980-05-17) 17 May 1980
Place of birth Tolosa, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1990–1997 Antiguoko
1997–1998 Athletic Bilbao
1998–1999 Antiguoko
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Real Sociedad B 103 (8)
2001–2008 Real Sociedad 104 (2)
2003–2004 → Numancia (loan) 10 (1)
2007–2008 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) 7 (0)
2009–2011 Tenerife 66 (4)
2011–2012 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
2014–2018 Real Unión 117 (7)
Total 407 (22)
International career
2004–2007 Basque Country 5 (0)
Managerial career
2018–2020 Antiguoko (youth)
2021–2022 Real Sociedad B (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his career at Real Sociedad, making 110 appearances and scoring four goals over seven seasons. He totalled 132 games and three goals in La Liga for that club and CD Tenerife, while also recording 48 matches and four goals in Segunda División for the latter and Numancia.

Additionally, Alonso had two brief spells in England, finishing his career at Real Unión.

Club career

Real Sociedad

A product of Real Sociedad's youth ranks, as was younger brother Xabi, Alonso was born in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, and made his debut in La Liga on 22 April 2001 against Real Valladolid (seven minutes played, 3–1 home win).[1] However, the presence of his sibling and Mikel Aranburu in central midfield meant that he was restricted to a supporting role, and he was then sent on loan to Segunda División's CD Numancia for 2003–04[2] but, while he was dedicated to the Soria team's bid for promotion, he remained keen to establish himself at Real Sociedad, returning at the end of the season;[3] under the management of José Mari Bakero, the player's importance to the team was demonstrated in the 2005–06 campaign, when he was the club's most used footballer playing in 37 games.

After his brother Xabi had already settled in England with Liverpool (having arrived during the summer of 2004), Alonso also decided to move to the Premier League and joined Bolton Wanderers, another team in north-west England, on a loan deal on 10 July 2007 with the option of a permanent deal at the end of the season.[4] However, after manager Sammy Lee was dismissed he fell out of favour and, under new coach Gary Megson, he only made two competitive appearances; subsequently, the Trotters opted to not extend his contract.

Alonso went back to Spain for 2008–09 but, upon his return to the Basque Country, discovered he was not a part of coach Juan Manuel Lillo's plans and was sent on trial to Olympiacos FC. This proved unsuccessful, however, and Real Sociedad exercised their right to buy the remainder of his contract, releasing him as a free agent.[5]

Tenerife

Following his release from Real Sociedad, Swansea City boss Roberto Martínez offered compatriot Alonso a chance to regain fitness.[6] After his brother highly recommended both coach and the player to arrange the deal, he accepted the offer and joined the squad in training.[7]

However, Alonso would not remain in Wales and, in late January 2009, moved to CD Tenerife after being contacted regarding a season-long deal.[8] He accepted the offer and stated that he had "heard good things" about his new team. However, he remained a fan of his former club Real Sociedad, stating that, although both sides competed in the second level, he hoped they gained promotion;[9] he contributed with 11 matches in a return to the top flight, after a seven-year absence.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Alonso began as a starter, scoring with a rare header in the second matchday, a 1–0 home win against Athletic Bilbao.[10] However, he appeared less regularly in the final stretch, as the Canarians were eventually relegated back.

Charlton

In late June 2011, following another Tenerife relegation, 31-year-old Alonso returned to England, joining Football League One club Charlton Athletic.[11] He made his official debut on 5 October in the Football League Trophy tie at The Valley against Brentford, conceding a penalty in an eventual 0–3 loss.[12]

Alonso was released at the end of the season, without making any appearances in any of the three major competitions.[13]

Real Unión

On 14 July 2014, after nearly two years without a club, Alonso signed for Real Unión in Segunda División B.[14] Four years later, the 38-year-old announced his retirement.[15]

International career

Alonso earned five caps for the Basque Country regional team.[16][17][18][19][20]

Personal life

The first son of Periko Alonso, who played with Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, Alonso grew up surrounded by football: he and his younger brother, Xabi – who also appeared for Real Sociedad before representing with individual and team success Liverpool, Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munich – would go training with their father when he was playing for CE Sabadell FC; all three were midfielders.

Influenced by his father, Alonso followed his example and became a professional footballer at the San Sebastián side.[21]

References
  1. Rodrigálvarez, Eduardo (23 April 2001). "La Real disfruta de una tarde feliz" [Real enjoy happy afternoon]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. "Breve enciclopedia numantina" [Brief numantina encyclopedia]. Desde Soria (in Spanish). 29 May 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  3. "Mikel Alonso: "A la Real y a mí nos interesa que juegue cada Domingo"" [Mikel Alonso: "Real and myself are interested in me playing every Sunday"] (in Spanish). Noticias. 16 January 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  4. "Alonso joins Bolton from Sociedad". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
  5. Lorenzo, J.L. (3 September 2008). "El club presentará mañana el ERE con Alonso y Stevanovic" [The club will present Alonso and Stefanovic tomorrow under ERE legislation]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  6. Wathan, Chris (11 December 2008). "Alonso enjoying his Swansea City stint". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
  7. Wathan, Chris (14 December 2008). "Alonso: My brother Xabi told me to link up with Swans". Wales Online. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  8. "El Tenerife confirma el fichaje de Mikel Alonso" [Tenerife confirm Mikel Alonso's signing]. Marca (in Spanish). 28 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  9. "Mikel Alonso: "Tenía varias opciones y Tenerife me pareció la más atractiva"" [Mikel Alonso: "I had several options and Tenerife seemed the most attractive one"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 29 January 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
  10. "Athletic Bilbao lose 100% record". ESPN Soccernet. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  11. "Mikel makes three". Charlton Athletic F.C. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  12. "Bees cruise into JPT last eight". Sky Sports. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  13. "Euell and Doherty head released list". Charlton Athletic F.C. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  14. "'Silas' y Alonso se suman a la plantilla" ['Silas' and Alonso added to roster] (in Spanish). Real Unión. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  15. "Despedida a Mikel Alonso con todos los honores" [Farewell to Mikel Alonso with full honours]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  16. "0–1. Camerún, sin Etoo, acabó con una racha de Euskadi de 25 años" [0–1. Cameroon, without Etoo, ended Basque Country's 25-year streak] (in Spanish). Periodista Digital. 28 December 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  17. "Basque XI 0–1 Wales". BBC Sport. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  18. "Catalunya y Euskadi igualan en una vistosa demostración" [Catalonia and Basque Country draw in flashy display]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 8 October 2006. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  19. Sternberg, Alex (21 June 2007). "La selección de Euskadi obtiene una vibrante victoria frente a Venezuela" [Basque Country national team get exciting win against Venezuela]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  20. Encinas, Mikel (26 December 2016). "Para Prieto todo empezó contra Honduras" [Everything started against Honduras for Prieto]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  21. Balagué, Guillem (18 May 2008). "Dads and lads: Periko and Xabi Alonso". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
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