Ezequiel Muñoz

Ezequiel Matías Muñoz (born 8 October 1990) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a centre back for Argentine club Lanús. His nickname is Il niño di Pergamino or El Chiquito.[1]

Ezequiel Muñoz
Personal information
Full name Ezequiel Matías Muñoz
Date of birth (1990-10-08) 8 October 1990
Place of birth Pergamino, Argentina
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Lanús
Youth career
2004–2007 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Boca Juniors 17 (0)
2010–2015 Palermo 131 (5)
2015 → Sampdoria (loan) 4 (0)
2015–2017 Genoa 49 (0)
2017–2019 Leganés 21 (0)
2019– Lanús 22 (1)
National team
2007 Argentina U17
2009 Argentina U20
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 March 2020

Club career

At 18 years of age, Muñoz made his league debut with Boca Juniors during a 0–1 defeat to Estudiantes de La Plata during the 2009 Clausura tournament.[2] He had, however, previously played with the team during the 2008 Copa Sudamericana. Subsequently, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his knee, which stalled his progression in the team.[3] He returned to the field during the 2010 Clausura, during a 2–2 draw with Argentinos Juniors.[4]

In August 2010, Serie A club Palermo announced the signing of Ezequiel Muñoz from Boca Juniors.[5] He made his debut with the Sicilian club on 26 August 2010, when he was picked as a starter in the return leg of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League play-off round against NK Maribor.[6][7] He debuted in Serie A on 29 August 2010 against Cagliari.

On 2 February 2015, Sampdoria confirmed that they had taken Muñoz on loan.[8] After only four matches, on 18 July 2015 he signed a 4-year contract as a free agent for Genoa.[9]

On 8 August 2017, Muñoz switched teams and countries again, signing a three-year deal with La Liga side CD Leganés, for a rumoured fee of € 2 million.[10] Ten days later he made his debut for the club, starting in a 1–0 home win against Deportivo Alavés.[11]

On 12 June 2019, Munoz signed with Argentine side Lanús.[12]

International career

In 2009, Muñoz was called by Argentine national team coach Diego Maradona for a friendly match against Panama in a squad exclusively formed with footballers based on the Argentine league. Nonetheless, he had to be left out after suffering the cruciate ligament injury to his knee.[13]

Career statistics
As of 24 August 2018[14][15]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Boca Juniors 2008–09 Primera División 20005070
2009–10 1500010160
Total 1700060230
Palermo 2010–11 Serie A 3404141422
2011–12 1910020211
2012–13 3200000320
2013–14 Serie B 3330000333
2014–15 Serie A 1311000141
Total 131551611427
Sampdoria 2014–15 Serie A 40000040
Total 40000040
Genoa 2015–16 Serie A 1800000180
2016–17 3101000320
Total 4901000500
Leganés 2017–18 La Liga 1802000200
2018–19 30000030
Total 2102000230
Career total 2225811212427

References
  1. "Ezequiel Munoz à Palerme" (in French). L'Equipe. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  2. "Clausura '09 statistics" (in Spanish). Fútbol Pasión. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  3. "Ezequiel Muñoz se rompió los ligamentos cruzados". Infobae (in Spanish). 27 April 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. "Clausura '10 statistics" (in Spanish). Fútbol Pasión. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  5. "PRESO EZEQUIEL MUÑOZ" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  6. "Europa League round-up M-U". SKY Sports. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  7. "Hernandez trascina il Palermo in Europa" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  8. "Munoz blucerchiato: il difensore argentino arriva dal Palermo" (in Italian). U.C. Sampdoria. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  9. "UFFICIALE: MUNOZ E' DEL GENOA" (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 18 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  10. "El central argentino Ezequiel Muñoz apuntala la defensa" [The Argentine stopper Ezequiel Muñoz bolsters the defence] (in Spanish). CD Leganés. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  11. "Como un pepino" [As a cucumber] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  12. "UFFICIALE: Lanus, ecco Munoz. Ha giocato al Palermo e al Genoa" (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  13. "Ezequiel Muñoz sufrió una grave lesión". La Capital MdP (in Spanish). 28 April 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  14. "E. Muñoz". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  15. "Ezequiel Muñoz » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
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