England, on the other hand, were making do with the veteran shot-stopper James along with Robert Green, Chris Kirkland, Scott Carson and Ben Foster, as well as a young and inexperienced Hart. There's no comparision between Almunia and Barnes. Captain Rio Ferdinand also limped out of the first training session with an injury, while collectively the squad headed to South Africa exhausted after a gruelling Premier League campaign. But things got so bad between the sticks back when Fabio Capello became the England manager in 2008 that the Italian was willing to consider Manuel Almunia for the role. Almunia did not represent Spain at any level. Arsenal's superb shot-stopper Manuel Almunia wants to represent England when he qualifies for a British passport next summer. Club statistics League Cup League Cup Continental Total; Season Club League Apps ... England 72 0 9 0 14 0 30 0 125 0 Total 161 0 9 0 14 0 30 0 214 0 References The left-side of the midfield was famously a problem-area for Sven-Goran Eriksson during the period of England’s so-called Golden Generation, and often saw Paul Scholes shunted out to the left – something we now look back on with a pang of regret. He may be a British Citizen...fair enough good on him, i like him BUT i dont want him playing for England! Must read content, player grades, stuff you can't get anywhere else. Manuel Almunia Rivero (born 19 May 1977) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Watford. Then, in England’s opening match against the USA, Green infamously allowed a weak equalising goal from Clint Dempsey to squeeze through him and roll agonisingly over the line, and that costly error saw him dropped for the remainder of the tournament in favour of James – perhaps cementing Capello’s lack of faith in his goalkeeping options. To Watford fans, he’s one of the club’s great heroes of the last decade; his famous penalty save against Anthony Knockaert combined with numerous match-winning displays during the Hornets’ stint in the Championship means he’ll never have to buy himself a drink in a pub around that part of Hertfordshire ever again. Manuel Almunia is ready to pledge his allegiance to England and could answer Fabio Capello's goalkeeper crisis ahead of next year's World Cup. Manuel Almunia: Arsenal's Spanish 'keeper who would be England’s No 1 The answer to England’s goalkeeping problems may be Spaniard Manuel … Stories have abounded this week that Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should play for England when he qualifies as a home player in the summer. The VAT number for the News UK Group is GB 243 8054 69. England’s run out at that summer’s World Cup was shambolic from start to finish; David Beckham was injured and missed the tournament, while Wayne Rooney – then England’s talisman – was unfit and under extreme scrutiny from the media. With Manuel Almunia pushing to wear the Three Lions, Sportsmail offers the England manager some more names he might want to choose if he opts for foreign players in his 2010 World Cup squad. So while the Three Lions’ squad boasted Premier League and Champions League winners across their outfield positions, their goalies were more familiar with the club football at the lower-end of the table. Almunia joined … With England's No. Manuel Almunia exclusive: I felt I could play for England but part of me was thinking, ‘What are you saying? He stated on more than one occasion his desire to play for England, only provided that he did not receive a call-up from his nation of birth first. Every generation of England squad has some kind of weakness. ©2021 The Athletic Media Company. Will be able to make the decision to choose Almunia for England within the first year or so on the g He is not English and has no English heritage and therefore has no place in the England team, irresepective of whether he has British citizenship or not. Manuel Almunia se convirtió en el héroe del Watford, de la segunda categoría, que está luchando por el ascenso a la Premier. If you play for England, people in England will want to kill you. The 30-year-old has yet to be capped by Spain and will qualify to play for England in a year's time having spent four years with the north London club. But was Capello wrong to turn his nose up at the Spaniard? Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is considering applying for a British passport after again failing to rule out the possibility of playing for England. “But part of me inside was thinking, ‘What the f*** are you saying? Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has not ruled out the possibility of representing England in the future. “But he is no better, in fact I don’t think he is as good as David James, the current England No.1 – David is English, Manuel isn’t; Almunia should play for Spain, that is his country.”, But it was Capello’s decision to make, and when discussing Almunia ahead of the World Cup, the England manager simply told journalists: “Almunia, for me, is Spanish. Yep, that’s right, the Spanish goalie who’s career in English football is now looked back on as a curious cocktail of highs and lows. So there is a clear inconsistency if you want Novo in the Scotland section but don't want (or can't justify why) Almunia in the England section. ... For example if Drogba had refused to play for the Ivory Coast, came to England, spent 5 years here and been successful, applied for a passport and made himself available for England because the thought he would have a better chance of winning a World Cup? When things go well, you feel you can do anything. Club career statistics. Almunia was a goalkeeper in relatively good form, he had experience playing at a club which was regularly around the top end of the Premier League, and he’d played in the Champions League. Manuel Almunia for England ??? Both companies registered in England with registered offices located at 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Adebayor seals Gunners win Walcott on target as Arsenal draw In 2008, there were murmurings that Arsenal stopper Manuel Almunia could be the answer to England’s goalkeeping problems. He’d also never played for Spain, as the Spanish had an abundance of great goalkeepers at that time – able to call upon Pepe Reina, Victor Valdes, and the best in the world in Iker Casillas. It was moments like this that increased his profile in England and led to a genuine discussion on whether he could become a naturalised British citizen in time to represent the Three Lions at the 2010 World Cup. All rights reserved. He was Arsenal's first choice goalkeeper following the departure of Jens Lehmann, although after Arsenal's 3–2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in 2010, Wojciech Szczęsny and Łukasz Fabiański were preferred, leaving Almunia as Arsenal's third-choice goalkeeper. Manuel Almunia is once again being touted as a future England goalkeeper following the Spaniard’s stand-out individual performance against Manchester United in the Champions League semi-final first leg. The Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, home of Al Jazira FC, is a giant, imposing arena that holds 40,000 fans. 1 jersey still very much up for grabs, Manuel Almunia's has cropped up again among the potential answers to Fabio Capello's goalkeeping problem. Open Article in App. As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. After South Africa and with a new generation coming through, Hart became England’s undeniable first-choice keeper and that more-or-less ended any further debate regarding Almunia. There is no mention that the treatment of Manuel Almunia was racist in the England section too. At the moment, the Three Lions are severely lacking in central defence – with Harry Maguire and Joe Gomez considered the best of the bunch that includes the varying powers of Michael Keane, John Stones and Tyrone Mings. Subscribe now to get full access to the new sports page. Almunia’s greeting — like the mid-afternoon 20-degree-heat — is warm and welcoming. Frank's best XI, Dream Team advice and more... Kai Havertz signs, Petr Cech backs backs Kepa Arrizabalaga, and more... Gareth Southgate names Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire in his first squad of 2020, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). 'The Sun', 'Sun', 'Sun Online' and 'Dream Team' are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. John Barnes was still a child when he moved to England, before he'd been anywhere near a football club. The website is published by News Group Newspapers Limited (registered number 679215), being a wholly-owned subsidiary of News Corp UK & Ireland Limited (registered number 81701). Of course, Almunia never actually played for England – but he certainly could’ve done. Wenger backs Almunia England bid Almunia has been in fine form for Arsenal this season . He plays for Arsenal. Also, Jamaica has many cultural and political connections with England, which Spain doesn't. Almunia qualifies for British citizenship as his wife is English. The Spaniard, who has said he would consider playing for England, will be eligible to apply for citizenship this summer having signed in 2004. I never considered it seriously.”. Manuel Almunia for England, says Wenger Arsene Wenger has said Fabio Capello should call on goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to solve England's problems between the … News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. Then if you go to Spain in the summer, people in Spain will want to kill you too. The club are owned by Manchester City’s royal backer Sheikh Mansour — financial muscle is flexed all around the United Arab Emirates’ oil-rich mix of pristine luxury and desert dust. Meanwhile their former first choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, is one of seven players leaving, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The Three Lions were struggling to … Copyright © 2015 News Group Newspapers Limited. Still, it begs the question; would England’s fortunes have differed dramatically during that summer in 2010 if Almunia had been playing between the sticks? It was strongly ridiculed by others though, including Harry Redknapp – then the manager of Spurs – who wrote for the Sun in 2009: “I have nothing against Almunia; he is a good keeper. Dont give me the Owen Hargreaves rubbish or how other countries play players who arent from their country...i dont care This is England, we play English players no one else...! Enter your email to read this article for free. The 42-year-old is a picture of good health in his green training top and blue shorts. I believe he is not only good enough, but he is the best.”. Almunia was part of the problem; wildly inconsistent, error-prone, and often guilty of letting in soft goals. Manuel Almunia is a Pamplona native with no ties to England. He is Spanish and he plays for the Arsenal team.”. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical. However, he never went through with his citizenship change prior to FIFA’s rule change. I strongly oppose this idea. Like many of the architectural boasts of Abu Dhabi it’s probably bigger than it needs to be. Manuel Almunia.. England's number 1? He is as English as a frankfurter sausage. Manuel Almunia was another who qualified for England after his lengthy stint in goal for Arsenal, and it was rumoured that he was seriously considering a switch to the Three Lions. But at Arsenal, he’s widely associated with the Gunners’ difficult post-Invincibles period; when the side endured a waning influence on English football amidst the top-of-the-table dominance of Chelsea and Man United. He was essentially English. England defender Rio Ferdinand does not believe Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia should be considered for selection for England. Manuel Almunia Rivero - Watford FC, Arsenal FC, West Ham United, Albacete, Recreativo Huelva, SD Eibar, CE Sabadell, Cartagonova FC, CA Osasuna, CA Osasuna B Country : England Players Teams Referees Stadiums Manuel Almunia (born 19 May 1977) is a Spanish football player. So technically he could qualify for England like when former Arsenal stopper Manuel Almunia was tipped for a Three Lions call, with the rules at … People will want to kill you!’. Green was handed the No.1 jersey, but there was little to separate him between James and Hart – the three shot-stoppers Capello decided to take to the World Cup. Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia may not have had time to get a British passport even if he had been selected to play for England. 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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was all for it, saying at the time: “If it is possible legally, why not? But Almunia was – at times – also a very capable goalkeeper and many argued he was the best keeper in the Premier League in 2009 – nodding to his brilliant performance against Man United in the Gunners’ Champions League semi-final contest and, although we criticised him just now in the game against Barcelona a year later, his first-half heroics in that match kept Arsenal’s hopes alive. The Spaniard has said he would consider playing for England saying, “They [Spain] have never, never called me.If other people want me, I have to study my situation and take a decision because it is good for me – I will not close myself to anything.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has lent his backing to keeper Manuel Almunia's potential claim to play for England. Due to residency rules, he qualified to play for the Three Lions after living in England for five years – meaning he was eligible to apply for citizenship. It actually, sort of, made brilliant sense. And of course who to pick as the first-choice goalkeeper has been a position of debate on-and-off for years, with England’s options between the sticks fluctuating wildly from David Seaman and Nigel Martyn in 2002, then to David James and Paul Robinson in the proceeding years, before Joe Hart came along and, more recently, Jordan Pickford. Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia wants an international call-up - whether that be with Spain or England. Photograph: Barry Coombs/Empics Sport This service is provided by News Group Newspapers. In a recent interview with the Athletic, Almunia discussed his flirtation with the role as England’s goalkeeper 10 years prior, saying: “I felt very happy in England – I loved English football, the country and the people. What are you doing?’, “I’m not the kind of person that wants these kind of problems. And I felt I could play for England. Notable moments in the 2009/10 season include his spilled shot against Birmingham City to allow Kevin Phillips the chance to equalise for the Blues deep into injury-time, his terrible positioning in a crucial Champions League tie against Barcelona which saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic chip the ball over his head to score, and you could even point to his poor decision-making in the build-up to Danny Rose’s famous thunderbolt in the North London Derby. But things got so bad between the sticks back when Fabio Capello became the England manager in 2008 that the Italian was willing to consider Manuel Almunia for the … Lions were struggling to … Manuel Almunia 's potential claim to play for but. Probably bigger than it needs to be, sort of, made brilliant.! 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