Miku (footballer)

Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores (born 19 August 1985), commonly known as Miku, is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Primera Federación club CD Arenteiro.

Not to be confused with Hatsune Miku.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fedor and the second or maternal family name is Flores.
Miku
Miku (in blue) in action for Getafe in 2012
Personal information
Full name Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores[1]
Date of birth (1985-08-19) 19 August 1985[2]
Place of birth Caracas, Venezuela
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Arenteiro
Youth career
1989–2001 Santo Tomás de Villanueva
2001–2004 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2010 Valencia 2 (0)
2004–2005 → Alcoyano (loan) 21 (5)
2005–2006 → Salamanca (loan) 36 (18)
2006 → Ciudad Murcia (loan) 8 (0)
2007 Valencia B 15 (1)
2007–2008 → Gimnàstic (loan) 29 (2)
2008–2009 → Salamanca (loan) 37 (15)
2010–2013 Getafe 92 (26)
2012–2013 → Celtic (loan) 11 (2)
2013–2014 Al-Gharafa 25 (6)
2015–2017 Rayo Vallecano 43 (13)
2017–2019 Bengaluru 32 (20)
2019–2020 Omonia 9 (0)
2020–2022 Deportivo La Coruña 48 (19)
2022–2023 Murcia 15 (1)
2023 Intercity 8 (1)
2023– Arenteiro 8 (2)
International career
2006–2015 Venezuela 51 (11)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Venezuela
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place2006 CartagenaTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:47, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

He spent most of his career in Spain, having played for a host of clubs and starting with Valencia. In La Liga, he also represented Getafe and Rayo Vallecano, and won a Scottish double while on loan at Celtic in 2013.

Miku represented Venezuela in two Copa América tournaments.

Early years

The son of a Hungarian father and a Venezuelan mother, Miku was born in Caracas and received his nickname after Miklós, the equivalent of his first name in the Hungarian language.[3][4]

Club career

Valencia

Having arrived in Valencia CF's youth system in 2001, Miku turned professional three years later, going on to serve five consecutive loans afterwards in both the second and third divisions.[5][6]

On 27 August 2009, having returned to the Che after a strong season with UD Salamanca (finishing as joint-fifth in the goal charts), he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 home win against Stabæk Fotball in the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League.[7]

Getafe

However, clearly deemed surplus to requirements at Valencia – only third or fourth-choice striker – Miku was sold in January 2010 to Getafe CF, signing a 4+1⁄2-year deal. He scored on his debut, a 2–1 away victory over RCD Mallorca in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, as a second-half substitute.[8]

Benefitting from the absence of first-choice Roberto Soldado due to injury, Miku began appearing regularly as a starter. On 28 March 2010 he netted twice in a 3–1 win at Deportivo de La Coruña,[9] adding another brace three rounds later, in a 3–0 home defeat of Villarreal CF also in La Liga.[10]

Miku started the 2011–12 season as first choice, over veteran Dani Güiza and Adrián Colunga. He scored three goals in his first two league games, against Levante UD (1–1 home draw)[11] and Real Madrid (4–2 away loss),[12] and ended the campaign with 12 goals, best in the squad.

On 31 August 2012, the last day of the summer transfer window, Miku moved on loan to Celtic.[13] He appeared in only 14 competitive matches during the season, and told Venezuelan media that he regretted his decision to join the Hoops;[14] one highlight of his time at Celtic Park was playing the full 90 minutes as they defeated FC Barcelona 2–1 in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[15]

Al-Gharafa

On 30 September 2013, Miku joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa SC for an undisclosed fee.[16][17] He scored five goals in 15 games in his debut campaign, in an eventual ninth-place finish out of 14 teams.

Rayo

Miku returned to Spain on 2 February 2015, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal with Rayo Vallecano.[18] On 12 February 2016, after contributing to a 2–2 away draw against Sporting de Gijón, he became the first Venezuelan to score in four consecutive Spanish top flight matchdays;[19] he was named February's La Liga Player of the Month for this feat.[20]

Bengaluru

In August 2017, 32-year-old Miku joined Indian Super League franchise Bengaluru FC on a two-year contract.[21] He scored his first goal for them on 26 November in a 4–1 rout of Delhi Dynamos FC,[22] adding three braces in his first season, against FC Goa in a 4–3 away defeat,[23] FC Pune City (3–1, away)[24] and Kerala Blasters FC (3–1, also away).[25]

In the 2018–19 season, Miku and his team won the competition after a 1–0 extra time defeat of Goa in the final.[26]

Later years

On 20 August 2019, Cypriot First Division club AC Omonia announced the signing of Miku for one year.[27] He returned to Spain on 25 September 2020, after agreeing to a contract with Deportivo La Coruña, recently relegated to the third tier.[28]

In 2021–22, Miku scored 12 goals for Dépor in the new Primera Federación, while they missed out on promotion after a 2–1 home loss to Albacete Balompié in the playoff final.[29] Having not been offered a new contract, he subsequently joined Real Murcia in the same league.[30] On 3 February 2023, he switched again to CF Intercity, where within two minutes of his debut against Real Unión he was taken off with facial injuries.[31]

International career

Miku made his debut with Venezuela on 16 August 2006, in a 0–0 friendly with Honduras.[32] Later, he was an important member of the squads that competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring in a 2–0 home victory against Colombia on 31 March 2009.[33]

On 9 September 2009, Miku netted twice in a 3–1 home win over Peru; this brought Venezuela closer to its first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification,[34] which eventually did not happen. He represented the nation at the 2011 Copa América, scoring in a 3–3 draw against Paraguay, helping his team to second place in the group stage[35] and an eventual fourth-place finish.

Four years later, in the next edition of the competition in Chile, Miku scored an 84th-minute goal in a 2–1 defeat to Brazil; a win would have sent his country through, but instead they were eliminated in last place in their group.[36] Later that year, he was among 15 national players who threatened to quit the team after the president of the Venezuelan Football Federation accused them of conspiring to get the manager sacked.[37][38]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 14 July 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Alcoyano (loan) 2006–07[39] Segunda División B21500——215
Salamanca (loan) 2005–06[39] Segunda División B361810—4[lower-alpha 1]24120
Ciudad Murcia (loan) 2006–07[39] Segunda División8010——90
Valencia B 2006–07[39] Segunda División B151———151
Gimnàstic (loan) 2007–08[39] Segunda División29210——302
Salamanca (loan) 2008–09[39] Segunda División371521——3916
Valencia 2009–10[39] La Liga20203[lower-alpha 2]3—73
Getafe 2009–10[39] La Liga16541——206
2010–11[39] La Liga317317[lower-alpha 2]0—418
2011–12[39] La Liga381220——4012
2012–13[39] La Liga2000——20
2013–14[39] La Liga5200——52
Total 92269270—10828
Celtic (loan) 2012–13[40] Scottish Premiership11210—2[lower-alpha 1]0142
Al-Gharafa 2013–14[40] Qatar Stars League15500——155
2014–15[40] Qatar Stars League10100——101
Total 25600——256
Rayo Vallecano 2014–15[39] La Liga7200——72
2014–15[39] La Liga22920——249
2016–17[39] Segunda División14210——152
Total 431330——4613
Bengaluru 2017–18[40] Indian Super League2015452[lower-alpha 3]0—2620
2018–19[40] Indian Super League 12510135
Total 3220553725
Omonia 2019–20[40] Cypriot First Division 9043——133
Deportivo La Coruña 2020–21[39] Segunda División B 10310——113
Career total 360111301110362406127
  1. Appearances in Promotion Play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in AFC Champions League

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[41]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Venezuela 200630
20077[lower-alpha 1]2
200963
201041
2011143
201271
201330
201440
201531
Total5111
  1. Includes one non-FIFA match
Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Miku goal.[41]
List of international goals scored by Miku
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
124 March 2007José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela New Zealand4–05–0Friendly
227 August 2007Antonio Oddone Sarubbi, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay Paraguay1–11–1Friendly
33 March 2009Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela Colombia1–02–02010 World Cup qualification
49 September 2009José Antonio Anzoátegui, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Peru1–03–12010 World Cup qualification
52–1
68 September 2010Metropolitano de Lara, Barquisimeto, Venezuela Ecuador1–01–0Friendly
725 March 2011Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica Jamaica1–02–0Friendly
81 June 2011Mateo Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala Guatemala1–02–0Friendly
913 July 2011Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta, Argentina Paraguay2–33–32011 Copa América
1015 August 2012Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan Japan1–11–1Friendly
1122 June 2015Monumental David Arellano, Santiago, Chile Brazil1–21–22015 Copa América

Honours

Celtic

Bengaluru

References
  1. "Miku". Diario AS. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. "Miku". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. Trochoni, Nadia (21 October 2009). ""Nunca paro de correr"" ["I never stop running"]. El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  4. "El crack de Venezuela que se les anima a todos, y también a Chávez" [Venezuela star jumps on everyone, including Chávez]. Clarín (in Spanish). 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  5. Miku del Valencia B, cedido al Nàstic de Tarragona (Miku from Valencia B, loaned to Nàstic de Tarragona) Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Join Futbol, 25 August 2007 (in Spanish)
  6. Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores "Miku" del Valencia CF, cedido al Salamanca (Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores "Miku" from Valencia CF, loaned to Salamanca) Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Join Futbol, 27 August 2008 (in Spanish)
  7. Valencia 4–1 Stabaek Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 27 August 2009
  8. Campos, Tomás (20 January 2010). "El Getafe asalta el Ono Estadi" [Getafe take over Ono Estadi]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  9. Depor's European hopes hammered Archived 25 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 28 March 2010
  10. Yellow Submarines are sunk Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN Soccernet, 13 April 2010
  11. Juanlu saves Levante; ESPN Soccernet, 28 August 2011
  12. Benzema at the double; ESPN Soccernet, 10 September 2011
  13. Champions sign two more new Bhoys Archived 2 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Celtic FC, 31 August 2012
  14. Apicella, Liam (2 April 2013). "Miku: 'I shouldn't have joined Celtic'". Sportsmole. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  15. O'Henley, Alex (7 November 2012). "Debutant Watt lights up memorable Celtic victory". UEFA. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  16. Club unveil Miku Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine; Al-Gharafa SC, 30 September 2013
  17. Miku swaps Getafe for Al-Gharafa Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine; Yahoo! Sports, 1 October 2013
  18. "Miku ficha por el Rayo" [Miku signs with Rayo]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  19. "Record man Miku loving life with Rayo Vallecano". Diario AS. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  20. "Miku named Liga BBVA Player of the Month for February". La Liga. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  21. "Bengaluru FC strengthen attack, sign Venezuela international Miku". Bengaluru FC. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  22. Sen, Abhimanyu (26 November 2017). "ISL 2017: Dominant Bengaluru FC outclass Delhi Dynamos 4–1". News18 India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  23. "ISL 2017–18: FC Goa hand 10-man Bengaluru FC first defeat of season in thrilling match". Firstpost. 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  24. Sen, Abhimanyu (14 December 2017). "ISL 2017: Miku brace gives Bengaluru FC win vs FC Pune City, go 3 points clear at the top". News18 India. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  25. S. Quadri, Abreshmina (31 December 2017). "ISL: Miku brace, Sunil Chhetri penalty gives Bengaluru FC dominating win over Kerala Blasters". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  26. "ISL 2018–19 Final highlights, Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa match updates: Bengaluru win title after late win". Firstpost. 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  27. "Στην ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑ ο Miku!" [Miku to OMONIA!] (in Greek). AC Omonia. 20 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  28. "Miku, nuevo jugador del Dépor 20·21" [Miku, new player of Dépor 20–21] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  29. Silveira, Xane (20 July 2022). "Miku se rinde a la afición del Dépor y habla de su amor por A Coruña: "Es un club gigantesco, con una masa social increíble"" [Miku surrenders to the Dépor fans and speaks about his love for A Coruña: "It's a gigantic club, with an incredible social mass"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  30. López, Rodrigo (5 August 2022). "El exdeportivista Miku ficha por el Real Murcia" [Ex-Deportivo player Miku signs for Real Murcia]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  31. "Miku será operado en la cara" [Miku will have a facial operation]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  32. "Con la sangre nueva" [With the new blood] (in Spanish). ESPN. 17 August 2006. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  33. "Venezuela respira en eliminatorias con histórica victoria ante Colombia" [Venezuela breathe in qualifiers with historical win against Colombia]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  34. "Miku mete a Venezuela en la pelea por la clasificación" [Miku puts Venezuela in fight for qualification]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  35. "Nicolás Fedor and Grenddy Perozo seal stunning Venezuela comeback". The Guardian. 14 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  36. "Brazil 2–1 Venezuela: Thiago Silva and Firmino seal top spot". Goal. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  37. "Venezuela: Salomon Rondon and squad in quit threat to board". BBC Sport. 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  38. "15 futbolistas renuncian a ser convocados con Venezuela" [15 footballers forfeit Venezuela selection]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  39. Miku at BDFutbol
  40. Miku at Soccerway
  41. Miku at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Miku at BDFutbol
  • Miku at National-Football-Teams.com
  • Miku – FIFA competition record (archived)
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