Esteban Granero

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Granero and the second or maternal family name is Molina.
Esteban Granero

Granero with Real Sociedad in 2014
Personal information
Full name Esteban Félix Granero Molina
Date of birth (1987-07-02) 2 July 1987
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Real Sociedad
Number 8
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– Real Sociedad 48 (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 15 May 2016.


Esteban Félix Granero Molina (Spanish pronunciation: [ez'teβan gɾa'neɾo mo'lina]; born 2 July 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Real Sociedad. Known as El Pirata ("The Pirate"),[1][2] he can play as a central or an attacking midfielder, his best attributes being passing, technique and shooting.

He emerged through Real Madrid's youth ranks, 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 B-team that won the International Football-7 tournament held in 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.

Granero, alongside teammates Juan Mata and Alberto Bueno, won the Copa de Campeones Juvenil de Fútbol in 2006,[3] an under-19 official youth tournament organized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. He then joined the club's C-squad 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 fourth division Group 7 in 2005–06, an accolade bestowed by Don Balón magazine,[4] 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.

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 unquestionable starter. He would eventually fail to make the transition into the first team, as 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.

After the season's end, in which both he and de la Red were instrumental in the team's campaign, which included a quarterfinals run in the UEFA Cup, Granero returned to Real Madrid. However, on 13 July 2008, he joined Getafe permanently, with Real keeping a re-buy option on the player.[5]

Return to Real

On 21 July 2009 Real Madrid exercised their buyback option, in a reported €4 million deal,[6] 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.[7] 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 Real Madrid 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.[8]

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 wingback – being preferred over him as central midfielder.[9]

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.[10][11] He made his Premier League debut two days later, starting in a 1–3 away loss against defending champions Manchester City.[12]

Granero scored his first goal for QPR on 6 October 2012, but in a 2–3 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.[13]

Real Sociedad

On 15 August 2013, after his team's relegation, Granero was loaned to Real Sociedad in a season-long move.[14] On 17 September, after entering the pitch in the 81st minute of an eventual 0–2 home loss against FC Shakhtar Donetsk for the campaign's UEFA Champions League,[15] he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, being sidelined for approximately six months.[16]

Following his loan at the club, Granero signed a long-term deal with Real Sociedad on 28 July 2014, for an undisclosed fee.[17] He played his first game in his second spell on 24 August, starting in a 0–1 away loss to SD Eibar.

International career

After having helped Spain to the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Granero made his debut for the under-21s on 6 February 2007, in a friendly match against England (2–2).

He appeared for the nation at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, in an eventual group stage exit.

Statistics

Club

As of 23 May 2015[18]
Club Season League Cup[19] Europe[20] Total
AppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
Getafe 2007–08 27326219314284
2008–09 35542000003754
Total 628682193179138
Real Madrid 2009–10 31351004003635
2010–11 19129104003222
2011–12 17014007002801
Total 6748141015009658
Queens Park Rangers 2012–13 24113000002711
2013–14 100000000100
Total 25113000002811
Real Sociedad 2013–14 401000200601
2014–15 330-21-40-391-
Total 37012106004311
Career total 1841316274130312412018

Honours

Club

Getafe
Real Madrid

Country

Spain U19

References

  1. ↑ "#Granero, el Pirata bohemio" [#Granero, the bohemian pirate] (in Spanish). Marca. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "'El Pirata' Granero huye de Madrid para ser el líder del QPR" ['El Pirata' Granero runs from Madrid to be QPR leader] (in Spanish). Sport. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  3. ↑ 1–0 El Madrid gana torneo ante un Valladolid que no estuvo cómodo (1–0 Madrid wins tournament against uncomfortable Valladolid); Terra, 7 May 2006 (Spanish)
  4. ↑ Números Uno 2005–06 (31st Edition) (Spanish)
  5. ↑ Getafe get their man in Granero; UEFA.com, 14 July 2008
  6. ↑ "Granero returns to Real". Sky Sports. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  7. ↑ Madrid maintain perfect start; ESPN Soccernet, 12 September 2009
  8. ↑ "Real held by lowly Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  9. ↑ "Granero, un imprescindible con pocos minutos" [Granero, untouchable with few minutes] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  10. ↑ "Exclusive: Granero completes move". QPR's official website. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "Official: Granero joins QPR on four-year deal". Goal.com. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Manchester City 3–1 Queens Park Rangers". ESPN Soccernet. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  13. ↑ West Brom 3–2 QPR; BBC Sport, 6 October 2012
  14. ↑ "Granero pens Sociedad loan". Queens Park Rangers. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Teixeira on target as Shakhtar ruin Real's night". UEFA.com. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Granero tiene roto el cruzado" [Granero has damaged cruciate] (in Spanish). Marca. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "Granero". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  19. ↑ Includes Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España
  20. ↑ Includes UEFA Super Cup
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