Nacho Monreal

Ignacio "Nacho" Monreal Eraso (Spanish pronunciation: [iɣˈnaθjo monreˈal eˈɾaso] or pronounced [ˈnatʃo monreˈal]; born 26 February 1986) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for La Liga club Real Sociedad and the Spain national team.

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

Nacho Monreal
Monreal warming up with Arsenal in 2015
Personal information
Full name Ignacio Monreal Eraso[1]
Date of birth (1986-02-26) 26 February 1986[2]
Place of birth Pamplona, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Real Sociedad
Number 20
Youth career
Pamplona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Osasuna B 36 (3)
2006–2011 Osasuna 127 (3)
2011–2013 Málaga 45 (1)
2013–2019 Arsenal 187 (7)
2019– Real Sociedad 42 (3)
National team‡
2004–2005 Spain U19 4 (0)
2007–2009 Spain U21 9 (0)
2009– Spain 22 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2018

He started playing with Osasuna in 2005, going on to appear in 144 official games over the course of five La Liga seasons. In 2011 he signed with Málaga and, two years later, joined Arsenal, winning three FA Cup trophies with the latter club while taking part in 251 matches across all competitions.

A full international since 2009, Monreal represented Spain at the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup.

Club career

Osasuna
Monreal in action for Osasuna in 2010

Born in Pamplona, Monreal was a product of CA Osasuna's youth system and made his official debut for his hometown club in an away game against Valencia CF on 22 October 2006, in a 0–1 La Liga loss.[4] He finished his first season with ten league appearances, adding two in the campaign's UEFA Champions League; after the Navarrese's relegation to the UEFA Cup, he appeared in four matches as the team reached the last four, being eliminated by fellow league side Sevilla FC.

Monreal became first-choice in 2007–08, retaining that status in the subsequent seasons, with another youth product, César Azpilicueta, being the undisputed starter in the other defensive wing.[5]

Málaga

On 10 June 2011, Monreal signed a five-year contract with Málaga CF on a €6 million transfer fee.[6] In his first season he initially battled for first-choice status with Eliseu, but ended up only missing seven games as the club finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League for the first time.[7]

Monreal scored his only goal for the Andalusians on 27 January 2013, in a 3–2 away win over RCD Mallorca.[8]

Arsenal
Monreal marking Florian Thauvin during a Champions League match against Marseille in November 2013

On 31 January 2013, Monreal joined English side Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, believed by Sky Sports to be around £8.5 million.[9][10] He was given the number 17 shirt,[11] and made his Premier League debut against Stoke City two days later in a 1–0 home win.[12][13]

On 23 February 2013, Monreal provided the assist for countryman Santi Cazorla to score the winner in a 2–1 victory over Aston Villa.[14] He scored his first goal for the Gunners on 16 March, opening a 2–0 win at Swansea City.[15]

Monreal returned from injury[16] on 21 August 2013 to feature in Arsenal's 3–0 win at Fenerbahçe SK in the Champions League group stage play-off, playing the last three minutes in the place of Theo Walcott.[17] On 26 September, he scored the deciding penalty in a shootout against West Bromwich Albion to send his team into the fourth round of the League Cup.[18]

Upon the arrival of Alexis Sánchez in the 2014 off-season, Monreal took the vacant number 18 previously worn by Sébastien Squillaci. On 23 August, he assisted Olivier Giroud's late equaliser in a 2–2 draw against Everton.[19] Additionally, an injury crisis in the squad saw him being deployed in an unfamiliar central defender role in a string of games, after Laurent Koscielny was put out of action due to an Achilles tendon injury.[20]

On 9 March 2015, Monreal scored the opening goal in a 2–1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford that put Arsenal through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.[21] He played the full 90 minutes in the decisive match, a 4–0 defeat of Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.[22]

On 19 January 2016, Monreal signed a new long-term contract.[23] On 23 April 2017, he scored the vital equaliser as his team came from behind to defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.[24]

On 6 November 2017, after good performances on the left side of a three-man defence,[25] Monreal won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Month award for October of that year.[26] The following 20 January, he netted once and made two assists before retiring injured 30 minutes into an eventual 4–1 home win against Crystal Palace.[27]

Real Sociedad

Monreal returned to Spain on 31 August 2019, with the 33-year-old joining Real Sociedad on a two-year contract.[28] He scored on his competitive debut two weeks later, converting an easy tap-in at the hour mark of an eventual 2–0 victory over Atlético Madrid at Anoeta Stadium.[29]

International career
Monreal taking on Chile's Eduardo Vargas in a 2013 friendly

In 2007, Monreal earned his first call for the Spain under-21 team. He started all their matches in the 2009 UEFA European Championship, in an eventual group stage exit.

On 6 August 2009, Monreal was called up to the senior side for the first time, for an exhibition game with Macedonia.[30] He played the last 15 minutes for Joan Capdevila in a 3–2 away win;[31] on 7 September 2010, in the nation's second game after they won the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he played the entire 1–4 friendly loss to Argentina.[32]

Monreal was a member of Spain's squad which reached the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, although he was second-choice left-back behind FC Barcelona's Jordi Alba. He started in the last two group games, beginning with a 10–0 thrashing of Tahiti at the Maracanã where he set up a David Villa goal.[33]

Monreal scored his first goal for Spain on 12 November 2016, contributing to a 4–0 defeat of Macedonia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in Granada.[34] He was then selected by manager Julen Lopetegui for the finals in Russia.[35]

Style of play

Upon signing with Arsenal in 2013, the club's manager Arsène Wenger described Monreal as "a strong left-sided defender with good experience at both club and international level. He is a technically gifted player, a good crosser in the final third and strong in the air."[36] Although he usually played as a defensive–minded left-back in a four-man back-line, he was also capable of playing as a centre-back or even as a left-sided defender in a back three.[37][38]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 13 January 2021.[39]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Osasuna B 2004–05 Segunda División B 1000———10
2005–06 35300———353
Total 36300—00—363
Osasuna 2006–07 La Liga 10030—60—190
2007–08 27100———271
2008–09 28010———290
2009–10 31160———371
2010–11 31110———321
Total 1273110—60—1443
Málaga 2011–12 La Liga 31020———330
2012–13 14130—40—211
Total 45150—40—541
Arsenal 2012–13 Premier League 101100000—111
2013–14 230302080—360
2014–15 28041006010391
2015–16 37010006010450
2016–17 360410030—431
2017–18 28500207110386
2018–19 2210020120—361
2019–20 30000000—30
Total 1877132604213025110
Real Sociedad 2019–20 La Liga 29240———332
2020–21 10100—6110172
Total 39340—6110504
Career Total 43417332605824053521

International
As of match played 3 June 2018[40]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 200920
201020
201110
201240
201370
201400
201500
201621
201730
201810
Total221

International goals
As of match played 3 June 2018[40]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 November 2016Nuevo Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain North Macedonia3–04–02018 World Cup qualification

Honours

Arsenal

Spain

Individual

References
  1. "Acta del partido celebrado el 27 de enero de 2013, en Palma de Mallorca" [Minutes of the match held on 27 January 2013, in Palma de Mallorca] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. "Nacho Monreal: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. "Nacho Monreal Eraso". Real Sociedad. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. "Valencia 1–0 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 22 October 2006. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  5. Hayward, Ben (2 February 2013). "Monreal y Azpilicueta, dos amigos que vuelven a reunirse en Londres" [Monreal and Azpilicueta, two friends that reunite in London] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  6. Ballesteros, Jesús (10 June 2011). "Monreal jugará en el Málaga las próximas cinco temporadas" [Monreal will play with Málaga in next four seasons]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. "Eliseu y Monreal, dos puñales menos" [Eliseu and Monreal, two daggers less]. Málaga Hoy (in Spanish). 26 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  8. "Mallorca stung by 10-man Malaga". ESPN FC. 27 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  9. "Arsenal sign Spain international left-back Nacho Monreal from Malaga". Sky Sports. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. Fifield, Dominic (1 February 2013). "Arsenal swoop late to sign Nacho Monreal from Málaga in £8.5m deal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. "Nacho Monreal agrees to join Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  12. "Team news: Monreal handed start on Arsenal debut against Stoke City". Goal. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  13. Johnston, Neil (2 February 2013). "Arsenal 1–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  14. Sanghera, Mandeep (23 February 2013). "Arsenal 2–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  15. Williams, Aled (16 March 2013). "Swansea 0–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  16. "Team news: Gibbs, Sagna, Monreal, the Ox". Arsenal F.C. 20 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  17. "Fenerbahçe 0–3 Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  18. "Capital One Cup third round: Arsenal win penalty shootout after 1–1 draw with WBA". Sky Sports. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  19. Wilson, Paul (23 August 2014). "Olivier Giroud rescues a point after Arsenal show backbone at Everton". The Observer. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  20. Yeend, Simon (29 November 2013). "Arsene Wenger rules out move for centre-back... says he's happy with Nacho Monreal". Daily Express. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  21. McNulty, Phil (9 March 2015). "Manchester United 1–2 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  22. McNulty, Phil (30 May 2015). "Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  23. Jones, Max (19 January 2016). "Monreal signs new long-term contract". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  24. Steinberg, Jacob (23 April 2017). "Arsenal 2–1 Manchester City: FA Cup semi-final – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  25. Brewin, Joe (11 August 2017). "Premier League: 5 big talking points from Arsenal 4–3 Leicester". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  26. "Nacho Monreal wins October's PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans' Player of the Month". Professional Footballers' Association. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  27. Mangan, Andrew (20 January 2018). "Monreal's creative cameo sets up emphatic Arsenal win vs. Palace". ESPN FC. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  28. "Agreement for the transfer of Monreal". Real Sociedad. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  29. McTear, Euan (14 September 2019). "Real Sociedad hand Atletico their first setback of the season". Marca. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  30. "Monreal: "Esta oportunidad es algo mágico para mí"" [Monreal: "This is a magical opportunity for me"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 6 August 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  31. "Crónica del Macedonia-España: 2–3" [Macedonia-Spain match report: 2–3.] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  32. "Crónica del Argentina – España, 4–1" [Argentina – Spain match report, 4–1] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 8 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  33. Magowan, Alistair (20 June 2013). "Spain 10–0 Tahiti". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  34. Bell, Arch (12 November 2016). "Spain march past Macedonia". Marca. Madrid. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  35. Maston, Tom (21 May 2018). "Morata misses out on Spain's 23-man World Cup squad". Goal. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  36. Ornstein, David (31 January 2013). "Nacho Monreal: Arsenal sign Malaga & Spain left-back". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  37. Harris, Chris (23 July 2019). "Monreal – A leadership role is what I want". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  38. "Arsenal players ranked and rated – in pictures". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  39. "Nacho Monreal". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  40. "Nacho Monreal". European Football. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  41. McNulty, Phil (17 May 2014). "Arsenal 3–2 Hull City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  42. McNulty, Phil (30 May 2015). "Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  43. McNulty, Phil (27 May 2017). "Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  44. Sanghera, Mandeep (10 August 2014). "Arsenal 3–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  45. Cryer, Andy (2 August 2015). "Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  46. Rostance, Tom (6 August 2017). "Arsenal 1–1 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  47. McNulty, Phil (25 February 2018). "Arsenal 0–3 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  48. Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  49. "Nacho Monreal – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
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