 De las Cuevas withAtlético Madrid in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Miguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-06-19)19 June 1986 (age 39) | ||
| Place of birth | Alicante, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Agustinos | |||
| 1993–2000 | Kelme | ||
| 2000–2002 | Valencia | ||
| 2002–2003 | Hércules | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2004 | Hércules B | ||
| 2003–2006 | Hércules | 68 | (3) |
| 2006–2009 | Atlético Madrid | 24 | (0) |
| 2009–2013 | Sporting Gijón | 121 | (18) |
| 2013 | →Osasuna (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Osasuna | 44 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | Spezia | 16 | (2) |
| 2016–2018 | Osasuna | 58 | (2) |
| 2018–2023 | Córdoba | 134 | (39) |
| 2023–2024 | Orihuela | 26 | (2) |
| Total | 507 | (71) | |
| International career | |||
| 2005 | Spain U19 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Miguel Ángel de las Cuevas Barberá (born 19 June 1986) is a Spanish former professionalfootballer. A versatilemidfielder, he could play both inthe wings andbehind the forwards, but usually occupied theattacking midfielder position.
After starting out atHércules, he went on to appear in 201La Liga matches over eight seasons, totalling 18 goals forAtlético Madrid,Sporting de Gijón andOsasuna. He added 127 games in theSegunda División (16 goals), and also spent one year in the ItalianSerie B withSpezia.
Born inAlicante,Valencian Community, de las Cuevas started his professional career with hometown clubHércules CF, in theSegunda División B. In the2004–05 season, he was instrumental as the team achieved promotion toSegunda División after a six-year-absence.[1]
For the2006–07 campaign, de las Cuevas signed a five-year contract withAtlético Madrid. During preseason, on 13 August, in theTeresa Herrera Trophy match againstClub Nacional de Football, he suffered a serious ankle injury that kept him out of action for more than one year.[2]
De las Cuevas finally made his debut for theColchoneros on 12 December 2007, playing the second half of aCopa del Reyaway tie againstGranada 74 CF, in theround of 32.[3] He appeared in 13La Liga matches inhis first season after returning from injury, 12 as asubstitute.
On 25 June 2009, after producing slightly the same numbers with Atlético, de las Cuevas moved to fellow top-tier sideSporting de Gijón on a four-year deal. However, Atlético retained an option to rebuy in the first three.[4] He had a breakthrough season in2009–10, ranking second in goals in the team at eight;[5] highlights included braces againstRCD Mallorca (4–1),[6]Athletic Bilbao (2–1, away)[7] and one against former club Atlético (1–1) that certified Sporting's permanence in the top flight for a further year, on 8 May 2010.[8]
Still under managerManuel Preciado, de las Cuevas was again an undisputed starter for Gijón in the2010–11 campaign.[9] On 2 April 2011, he scored the only goal in a win overReal Madrid at theSantiago Bernabéu Stadium, endingJosé Mourinho's record of nine years and 150 league matches unbeaten at home;[10] he only missed one league game and netted six times, in another final escape from relegation.[5]
De las Cuevas was loaned toCA Osasuna on 11 January 2013, thus returning to the top flight.[11] The move was made permanent in late May after theNavarrese managed toretain their status, with a€1.2 million fee being paid in equal shares to Atlético and Sporting.[12]
On 29 January 2015, de las Cuevas terminated his contract that ran until June 2016, and moved abroad for the first time in his career at the age of 28, signing withSpezia Calcio in Italy.[13][14] His first appearance in theSerie B occurred on 14 February, as he featured 73 minutes in a 0–0 draw atCarpi F.C. 1909.[15]
In late September 2015, de las Cuevas successfully underwent surgery to his heart after an anomaly was detected. He was sidelined for six months.[16][17]
De las Cuevas returned to Osasuna on 1 February 2016, on afree transfer.[18] He left the club in July 2018 after his contract expired, and signed a one-year deal withCórdoba CF on 31 August.[19]
De las Cuevas scored nine times in2018–19, but his team suffered relegation from the second tier. He continued to be first choice the following years,[20] contributing a career-best 13 goals to a promotion to division three in2022 and being voted the Group IV's best player in the process.[21]