Esteban Granero

Esteban Félix Granero Molina (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈteβan ˈfeliɣz ɣɾaˈneɾo moˈlina];[lower-alpha 1] born 2 July 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Marbella FC. Known as El Pirata ("The Pirate"),[3][4] he can play as a central or an attacking midfielder, his best attributes being passing, technique and shooting.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Granero and the second or maternal family name is Molina.

Esteban Granero
Granero with Real Sociedad in 2016
Personal information
Full name Esteban Félix Granero Molina[1]
Date of birth (1987-07-02) 2 July 1987[2]
Place of birth Madrid, Spain[2]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Marbella
Number 11
Youth career
1996–2004 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Real Madrid C 48 (9)
2006–2008 Real Madrid B 37 (4)
2007–2008 → Getafe (loan) 27 (3)
2008–2009 Getafe 35 (5)
2009–2012 Real Madrid 67 (4)
2012–2014 Queens Park Rangers 25 (1)
2013–2014 → Real Sociedad (loan) 4 (0)
2014–2017 Real Sociedad 67 (0)
2017–2020 Espanyol 64 (5)
2020– Marbella 5 (0)
National team
2002 Spain U16 1 (0)
2004 Spain U17 5 (0)
2006 Spain U19 9 (1)
2007 Spain U20 5 (0)
2007–2009 Spain U21 10 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 March 2020

He emerged through Real Madrid's youth academy, but made a name for himself in La Liga with Getafe, following which he returned to his previous team, winning two major titles but being sparingly played over the course of three seasons.

Granero represented Spain at under-21 level, appearing in the 2009 European Championship.

Club career

Real Madrid

Born in Madrid, Granero joined ranks of Real Madrid when he was just eight years old, and quickly began displaying his footballing talent. In one season, he scored 83 goals in the under-10 division and, in 1999, captained the under-12 side that won the International Football-7 tournament held at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona by defeating FC Barcelona 1–0 with his extra time goal – he was also named the best player of the competition.[5]

Granero, alongside teammates Juan Mata and Alberto Bueno, won the Copa de Campeones Juvenil de Fútbol in 2006,[6] an under-19 official youth tournament organized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. He then joined the club's C-team at the age of 17, standing out for his talent and passing skills and going on to receive the Números 1 Don Balón award as the "Most Valuable Player" of the Group VII of Tercera División in 2005–06, an accolade bestowed by Don Balón magazine,[7] one of the founding members of European Sports Magazines; that same season he made his first appearance with Real Madrid Castilla in a match against Albacete Balompié, during which he had a goal assist.[8]

Granero in 2007

Getafe

Granero made the definitive jump to Castilla in 2006–07's Segunda División, and slowly earned the confidence of coach Míchel until finally becoming an undisputed starter.[9] He would eventually fail to make the transition into the first team, as did fellow cantera players Rubén de la Red, Javi García and Adrián González and, on 31 August, the last day of the transfer window, he moved to Getafe CF (also in Madrid) on a one-year loan; de la Red also joined Getafe, albeit in a different deal.[10]

After the season's end, in which both he and de la Red were instrumental in the team's campaign that included runs to the quarter-finals in the UEFA Cup and the final of the Copa del Rey,[11] Granero returned to Real Madrid. However, on 13 July 2008, he joined Getafe permanently, with Real keeping a re-buy option on the player.[12]

Return to Real

On 21 July 2009, Real Madrid exercised their buyback option in a reported €4 million deal,[13] and Granero scored three goals during the pre-season. His first official one came in his first start, the opener in a 3–0 La Liga away success against RCD Espanyol on 12 September 2009.[14] In his first season, where the Merengues eventually came out empty in silverware, he alternated the bench with starts, with irregular performances.

In the 2010–11 season, after the club purchased two players in similar positions, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, Granero was limited mainly to substitute appearances. On 16 January 2011 he came from the bench to score against UD Almería, in a 1–1 away draw against the bottom-placed team.[15]

Granero's situation became worse in the 2011–12 season, with even Fábio Coentrão – another compatriot of manager José Mourinho who was signed in the off-season, originally as a left fullback – being preferred over him as central midfielder.[16]

Queens Park Rangers

On 30 August 2012, Granero signed a four-year contract with English club Queens Park Rangers after transferring for a reported fee of £9 million, and was handed the number 14 shirt.[17][18] He made his Premier League debut two days later, starting in a 1–3 away loss against defending champions Manchester City.[19]

Granero scored his first goal for QPR on 6 October 2012, but in a 2–3 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.[20]

Real Sociedad

On 15 August 2013, after his team's relegation, Granero was loaned to Real Sociedad in a season-long move.[21] On 17 September, after entering the pitch in the 81st minute of an eventual 0–2 home loss against FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the campaign's UEFA Champions League,[22] he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, being sidelined for approximately six months.[23]

Following his loan at the club, Granero signed a long-term deal with Real Sociedad on 28 July 2014, for an undisclosed fee.[24] He played his first game in his second spell on 24 August, starting in a 0–1 away loss to SD Eibar.[25]

Espanyol

On 7 July 2017, Granero signed a three-year contract with Espanyol.[26] He appeared in 25 matches in his first season, adding 28 the following.[27]

Granero scored his first league goal for the Catalans on 18 February 2018, in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.[28] On 30 January 2020, he left the RCDE Stadium by mutual consent.[27]

Marbella

The same day he became a free agent, Granero joined Marbella FC until June 2021.[29] He made his Segunda División B debut on 2 February 2020 at the age of 32 years and 7 months, playing 18 minutes in the 0–0 draw away to Mérida AD.[30]

International career

After having helped Spain to the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship,[31] Granero made his debut for the under-21s on 6 February 2007, in a friendly match against England (2–2).[32] He appeared for the nation at the 2009 European Under-21 Championship, in an eventual group stage exit.[33]

Career statistics

Club
As of 3 July 2018[34]
Club Season League Cup[35] Europe[36] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Getafe 2007–08 2736293428
2008–09 35520—375
Total 62882937913
Real Madrid 2009–10 3131040363
2010–11 1919140322
2011–12 1704070280
Total 674141150965
Queens Park Rangers 2012–13 24130—271
2013–14 1000—10
Total 2513000281
Real Sociedad 2013–14 40002060
2014–15 3302140391
2015–16 15000—150
2016–17 19030—220
Total 7105160821
Espanyol 2017–18 25071—321
Career total 2501337530331721

Honours

Club

Getafe

Real Madrid

International

Spain U19

Notes
  1. In isolation, Félix and Granero are pronounced [ˈfeliks] and [ɡɾaˈneɾo], respectively.

References
  1. "Acta del partido celebrado el 02 de octubre de 2011, en Barcelona" [Minutes of the match held on 2 October 2011, in Barcelona] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. "Esteban Granero". Eurosport. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. Labarga, Nacho (15 September 2011). "#Granero, el Pirata bohemio" [#Granero, the bohemian pirate]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  4. Alcázar, Alejandro (30 August 2012). "'El Pirata' Granero huye de Madrid para ser el líder del QPR" ['The Pirate' Granero runs from Madrid to be QPR leader]. Sport (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. Cañizares, Rubén (29 November 2005). "Es todo un honor que me comparen con Zidane" [I am really honoured to be compared to Zidane]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  6. 1–0 El Madrid gana torneo ante un Valladolid que no estuvo cómodo (1–0 Madrid win tournament against uncomfortable Valladolid); Terra, 7 May 2006 (in Spanish)
  7. Números Uno 2005–06 (31st Edition); at Don Balón (in Spanish)
  8. "Triunfo cómodo del Castilla" [Easy win for Castilla]. El Día (in Spanish). 28 November 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  9. Balderas, Miguel Ángel (26 November 2013). "La última plantilla que descendió con el Castilla. ¿Qué fue de ellos?" [The last squad to be relegated with Castilla. What happened to them?] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  10. "De la Red y Granero fichan por el Getafe" [De la Red and Granero sign for Getafe]. Marca (in Spanish). 31 August 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  11. "Un perdón con forma de Copa (3–1)" [Pardon in the shape of a Cup (3–1)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 17 April 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  12. Getafe get their man in Granero; UEFA, 14 July 2008
  13. "Granero returns to Real". Sky Sports. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  14. Madrid maintain perfect start; ESPN Soccernet, 12 September 2009
  15. "Real held by lowly Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  16. De Carlos, Jaime (9 July 2012). "Granero, un imprescindible con pocos minutos" [Granero, untouchable with few minutes] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  17. "Exclusive: Granero completes move". Queens Park Rangers. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  18. Jaffa, Jay (30 August 2012). "Official: Granero joins QPR on four-year deal". Goal. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  19. "Manchester City 3–1 Queens Park Rangers". ESPN Soccernet. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  20. West Brom continued their fine start to the season as they overcame QPR to add to the pressure on Mark Hughes.; BBC Sport, 6 October 2012
  21. "Granero pens Sociedad loan". Queens Park Rangers. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  22. "Teixeira on target as Shakhtar ruin Real's night". UEFA. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  23. "Granero tiene roto el cruzado" [Granero has damaged cruciate]. Marca (in Spanish). 18 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  24. "Premier League: QPR midfielder Esteban Granero has finalised a permanent move to Spanish side Real Sociedad". Sky Sports. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  25. Lara seals dream start for Eibar; ESPN FC, 24 August 2014
  26. "Granero, fourth signing!". RCD Espanyol. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  27. "Granero rescindirá hoy su contrato" [Granero will terminate his contract today] (in Spanish). Diario La Grada. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. Rodríguez, Ángel (18 February 2018). "Granero cambia la realidad" [Granero changes the reality]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. Gutiérrez, Borja (30 January 2020). "El Marbella sorprende y ficha a Granero" [Marbella surprise and sign Granero]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. "El Marbella no pasa del empate en el estreno de Granero (0–0)" [Marbella can only draw in Granero debut (0–0)] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. Díaz Rubio, Julián. "European U-19 Championship 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  32. Rae, Richard (7 February 2007). "Lita arrives late and does his level best for Pearce's England". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  33. Atkin, John (23 June 2009). "Too little too late for Spain". UEFA. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  34. "Granero". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  35. Includes Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España
  36. Includes UEFA Super Cup
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