 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Moisés Alberto Muñoz Rodríguez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Morelia, Mexico | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | América | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2010 | Morelia | 282 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Atlante | 53 | (0) |
| 2011– | América | 65 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004– | Mexico | 12 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 November 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 November 2013 | |||
Moisés Alberto Muñoz Rodríguez (born 1 February 1980 in Morelia, Michoacán) is a Mexican footballer, who currently plays for América of the Liga MX as a goalkeeper. Muñoz began his career with Monarcas Morelia, eventually moving to Atlante in 2010. He has also participated with the Mexico national team, debuting in 2004, and was part of the national team which finished fourth place at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Among his abilities are his accuracy and aerial ability; he is noted for his precise long clearances and passes and his aerial clearances. He has a good penalty stopping ability as well. Earlier in his career, Muñoz was criticized for being deemed "overweight" at some stages, although his physique hasn't seemed to have hampered his performances.
In June 2012, Muñoz lost control of his automobile and crashed while driving to Morelia, Michoacán.[2]
Club career
Morelia
Muñoz made his league debut on 19 September 1999 against Pachuca. During the Invierno 2000 league tournament, despite not starting, Morelia achieved their only league title with a win against Toluca. A native of the city of Morelia, he became a mainstay of the club, even achieving a cult status among the fans, with his 11 years at the club one of the longest for a goalkeeper in the league. He played 282 games for the club, conceding 372 goals, before being transferred to Atlante in the 2010 Draft, in exchange for goalkeeperFederico Vilar.
Atlante
For the 2010 Apertura, Moses joined Atlante in a trade for former Atlante goalkeeper Federico Villar, who moved to Monarcas. He would go on to be a permanent fixture for the club until his departure, making 53 league appearances.
América
In December 2011 Moises Muñoz was signed by league giants América.[3] During the Clausura 2012 tournament, he helped América reach the semifinals, starting 21 games and playing 90 minutes in 20 of them (he was taken off in the second half in a league match against Atlas).
In 2013, Muñoz played his first league final for América, conceding the only goal in a 0–1 away loss against Cruz Azul. His performance in the second-leg at the Estadio Azteca on 26 May helped América achieve a dramatic comeback after losing 0–1, 0–2 aggregate, to tie the match 1–1 in the 88th minute with a goal from club captain Aquivaldo Mosquera. In the 92nd minute of the game, second of injury time, Muñoz scored a flying header off an Osvaldo Martínezcorner, which deflected off Cruz Azul defender Alejandro Castro, and scored América's second goal to send the game into extra-time, and subsequently to a penalty shoot-out. Muñoz saved Javier Orozco's penalty kick. América would go on to win its eleventh league title, with Muñoz's performance being lauded by the world media.[4][5]
International career
Mexico national team
Muñoz has been selected to represent Mexico mainly as an alternative. His first international cap was in a friendly game against opposing team Ecuador on 27 October 2004. Muñoz was the second choice keeper in both the 2004 Copa América and the 2005 Confederations Cup. Muñoz was the starting goalkeeper for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He made the preliminary list for the 2006 World Cup by coach Ricardo La Volpe, unfortunately he was part of the last cut. Muñoz has been called up as a backup goalkeeper by Hugo Sánchez and Sven-Göran Eriksson. His most recent call up was on 12 November 2008 for a friendly against Ecuador.
Five years after his last call-up, Muñoz was selected by coach José Manuel de la Torre to Mexico´s 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad. On 14 July 2013, he was the starting goalkeeper for Mexico´s last group stage match against Martinique, which Mexico won 3–1, despite failing to save a penalty kick from Kévin Parsemain. Later that year, after Miguel Herrera took over as national team coach, Muñoz was named the starting goalkeeper for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff matches against New Zealand.
Accident
On 3 June 2012, Muñoz was driving his Honda Odyssey through the highway that connects Mexico City with Guadalajara when he lost control of his vehicle and flipped it on to its roof.[2] The goalkeeper was heading to Morelia, Michoacán at around 7:00 p.m. with his wife Verónica Castro Alfaro (aged 31), and along with his two kids: Héctor Moisés (aged 8) y Zafiro (aged 3).[2][6] All of them were taken to Ángeles del Pedregal hospital by helicopter – the same hospital where Salvador Cabañas, a former Paraguayan footballer and Club América player, was treated after being shot in the head.[7][8] Apparently, the harsh rainfall in the area caused Muñoz to lose control of his vehicle.[9] Moreover, according to reports by the Mexican Red Cross, Muñoz suffered fromtraumatic brain injury but was "stable and conscience."[2] Originally, it was reported that Muñoz's health condition was serious, but it improved as he received medical attention.[7] It was later stated that his head wound did not risk his life nor his football career.[10] Muñoz only had a head wound and never lost conscience of what had happened
