Alejandro Garnacho
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [2] | 1 July 2004||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Winger | ||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
Number | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
–2015 | Getafe | ||||||||||||||||
2015–2020 | Atlético Madrid | ||||||||||||||||
2020–2022 | Manchester United | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
2022– | Manchester United | 74 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
2021 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
2022 | Argentina U20 | 5 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
2023– | Argentina | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:22, 26 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 03:24, 15 November 2024 (UTC) |
Alejandro Garnacho Ferreyra (born 1 July 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester United and the Argentina national team.
Garnacho joined Manchester United's youth system from Atlético Madrid in October 2020. He won the FA Youth Cup and the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in May 2022. The month prior, he had made his first-team debut at the age of 17.
Garnacho initially went through the youth ranks of Spain, the country of his birth, before making his debut for Argentina at under-20 level in 2022. He made his debut for the senior Argentina team in June 2023, and was a member of the squad that won the 2024 Copa América title.
Club career
Early career
Born in Madrid, Garnacho joined Atlético Madrid's youth system in 2015 from Getafe.[3]
Manchester United
Youth career
In October 2020, Garnacho joined the Manchester United Academy.[4] United paid Atlético a £420,000 fee.[5] He signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2021.[5]
Garnacho came under the spotlight for his solo goal in the FA Youth Cup win over Everton, which was nominated for United's Goal of the Month award for February 2022.[6] After being named as an unused substitute for several Premier League matches, Garnacho made his first-team debut for United on 28 April, replacing Anthony Elanga in the 91st minute of a 1–1 draw against Chelsea.[7] Garnacho won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in May.[8] He scored twice in the final of the FA Youth Cup against Nottingham Forest on 11 May, helping United win the competition for the first time since 2011.[9]
2022–23: Breakthrough and rise to the first-team
For the start of the 2022–23 Premier League season, he changed his shirt number from 75 to 49.[10] On 4 October, he scored a late winner for United's U-21 against Barrow in the 2022–23 EFL Trophy.[11] Garnacho made his first senior start for United on 27 October, in a 3–0 win over Moldovan team Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Europa League, whereafter he was praised by manager Erik ten Hag for his improvement over the past few weeks, saying that though previously dissatisfied, he was happy with Garnacho's improved attitude and resilience.[12] On 3 November, he scored his first senior goal in a Europa League match against Real Sociedad with an assist from his idol Cristiano Ronaldo.[13] Garnacho scored his first goal in the Premier League on 13 November, an injury-time winner against Fulham.[14] On 14 January 2023 in the Manchester derby, Garnacho set up Marcus Rashford's 82nd-minute winner in a 2–1 win against Manchester City.[15] On 14 March, Garnacho announced he would be sidelined for several weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury during a game against Southampton.[16] On 28 April, Garnacho signed a new contract extension that will last until 30 June 2028.[17] On 13 May, Garnacho returned from two months out with injury, scoring the second goal in a 2–0 victory against Wolves.[18]
2023–24: Established first-team regular and FA Cup title
At the beginning of the 2023–24 Premier League season, Manchester United announced that Garnacho's squad number would be changed from 49 to 17.[19] On 3 September, in a 3–1 away defeat to Arsenal, Garnacho scored in the 88th minute, but the goal was controversially ruled out by VAR for offside.[citation needed] Had the goal stood, United would have led 2–1.[citation needed] On 26 November, Garnacho scored his first league goal of the season with a bicycle kick from 15 yards (14 m) out to open the scoring in a 3–0 win over Everton, earning him the Premier League Goal of the Month for November 2023,[20] and eventually the Premier League Goal of the Season.[21] Three days later, Garnacho scored his first Champions League goal in a 3–3 away draw against Galatasaray.[22] On 26 December, Garnacho scored two goals in a 3–2 comeback win against Aston Villa.[23][24] On 4 February 2024, he scored another brace in a 3–0 win over West Ham United.[25] On 4 April, he scored twice once again, this time in a 4–3 away defeat to Chelsea, becoming the first teenager to score multiple braces in three Premier League matches in a single season since Michael Owen in 1998–99.[26] In the FA Cup final on 25 May, Garnacho scored the opening goal in an eventual 2–1 win over Manchester City.[27] His goal in the final was the first for a teenager since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004, and he also became the second Argentinian to score after Ricardo Villa’s brace for Tottenham Hotspur also against City in 1981.[28]
2024–25
On 10 August 2024, in the FA Community Shield, Garnacho opened the scoring against Manchester City. The match eventually ended in a 1–1 draw and went to penalties, and although Garnacho converted his penalty, United lost the shoot-out 7–6.[29] On 14 September, he scored his first league goal for the season in a 3–0 away win over Southampton, having entered the pitch as a substitute.[30] On 17 September, he scored two goals and provided two assists in United's 7–0 rout of Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup.[31]
On 27 October, Garnacho made his 100th appearance for Manchester United in a 2–1 defeat to West Ham United at London Stadium;[32] manager Erik ten Hag was sacked less than 24 hours after the result, with assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge on an interim basis. Prior to a Europa League match against PAOK on 7 November, a clip emerged on social media of a fan verbally abusing Garnacho while signing autographs. Three days later, in Van Nistelrooy's final match as interim, he scored United's third goal in their 3–0 win over Leicester City. He did not celebrate the goal as, according to United captain Bruno Fernandes, he felt he had "lost faith" from some supporters.[33]
New head coach Ruben Amorim dropped Garnacho alongside Marcus Rashford from the squad completely for the Manchester derby on 15 December 2024, which United won 2–1. Two days later, on 17 December, it was announced that Garnacho had won the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of 2023, for his goal against Everton the previous season.[34]
International career
Garnacho was eligible to play for his country of birth, Spain, and Argentina, as his mother is Argentine.[35] He made three appearances for the Spain under-18 team in 2021.[36]
On 7 March 2022, Garnacho was called up to the senior Argentina team as part of an initial 44-man squad for their two World Cup qualifiers that month.[37] He made it to the final 33-man squad for the fixtures,[38][39] but did not make an appearance in either game.[40]
Garnacho made his debut for the Argentina under-20 side on 26 March, when he started in a friendly match against the United States.[41] He scored four goals in four appearances[36] for the under-20 team at the 2022 Maurice Revello Tournament winning the Revelation Player and Goal of the Tournament awards.[42][43]
In March 2023, he was called up once again to the senior Argentina team for two friendly matches against Panama and Curaçao,[44][45] but had to withdraw from the squad after suffering an ankle injury.[16] He made his debut for the senior team on 15 June, during a friendly against Australia at Workers' Stadium, coming on as a substitute for Nicolás González during the second half of the game.[46]
In June 2024, Garnacho was included in Lionel Scaloni's final 26-man Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa América, going on to win the tournament.[47]
Style of play
An energetic forward, Garnacho has been praised for his speed and dribbling abilities, as well as his ability to create chances and get into the box.[48] He is considered one of the most promising prospects of Manchester United's academy. At United, he has frequently been deployed as a winger on either the left or right flank. United coach Mike Phelan described him as "everything that Manchester United is about" and "an intelligent player who understands his role in the team".[49]
His style of play has been heavily influenced by that of former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he idolizes. He frequently performs Ronaldo's iconic goal celebrations when scoring goals himself.[50]
Personal life
Garnacho was born in Madrid to a Spanish father, Alex Garnacho, and an Argentine mother, Patricia Ferreyra Fernández.[51] He has a younger brother named Roberto. His father Alex is closely associated with management firm, Leader Sports Management, who currently represent Garnacho.[51]
Garnacho and his girlfriend, Eva, have a son, Enzo, who was born on 4 October 2023.[52]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 26 December 2024[53]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester United U21 | 2021–22[54] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
2022–23[55] | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
Total | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
Manchester United | 2021–22[54] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
2022–23[55] | Premier League | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6[b] | 1 | — | 34 | 5 | ||
2023–24[56] | Premier League | 36 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6[c] | 1 | — | 50 | 10 | ||
2024–25[57] | Premier League | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6[b] | 1 | 1[d] | 1 | 27 | 8 | |
Total | 74 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 113 | 23 | ||
Career total | 74 | 13 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 116 | 24 |
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearance in FA Community Shield
International
- As of match played 14 November 2024[58]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 2023 | 3 | 0 |
2024 | 5 | 0 | |
Total | 8 | 0 |
Honours
Manchester United U18
Manchester United
Argentina
Individual
- FIFA Puskás Award: 2024
- Premier League Goal of the Season: 2023–24[21]
- Premier League Goal of the Month: November 2023[20]
- Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 2021–22[8]
- Maurice Revello Tournament Revelation Player: 2022[62]
- Maurice Revello Tournament Best XI: 2022[63]
- Maurice Revello Tournament Goal of the Tournament: 2022[62]
- IFFHS Men's World Youth (U20) Team: 2023[64]
- BBC Goal of the Season: 2023–24[65]
- Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2023–24 (vs. Everton, 26 November 2023)[66]
References
- ^ "2024/25 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Alejandro Garnacho: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "2015–16 Atlético de Madrid Alevín". atleticodemadrid.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "New forwards join the Academy". Manchester United. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Where Manchester United stand on Alejandro Garnacho new contract amid Juventus links". Manchester Evening News. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Which is your February Goal of the Month?". Manchester United. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Holt, Matthew (28 April 2022). "Garnacho makes United debut". Manchester United. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Garnacho named U18s Player of the Year". Manchester United. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Man Utd 3-1 Nottingham Forest: Home side clinch FA Youth Cup in front of record crowd at Old Trafford". Sky Sports. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ Wood, Liam (28 June 2022). "Manchester United give Alejandro Garnacho new squad number". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ Wood, Liam (5 October 2022). "Manchester United fans sent wild by 'magic' Alejandro Garnacho goal vs Barrow". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Stone, Simon (27 October 2022). "Manchester United 3-0 Sheriff Tiraspol: Cristiano Ronaldo scores in comfortable win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Johnston, Neil (3 November 2022). "Real Sociedad 0-1 Man Utd: Teenager Alejandro Garnacho scores but Red Devils finish second in Europa League group". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ Olley, Jamie (13 November 2022). "Alejandro Garnacho's stoppage-time heroics keep Manchester United firmly in top-four race". ESPN. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Marcus Rashford hails Manchester United teammate Alejandro Garnacho vs Man City". Manchester Evening News. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Man Utd winger Garnacho sidelined for several weeks". BBC Sport. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Viva Garnacho! Alejandro Signs New Contract". Manchester United. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ "'Huge talent' Garnacho can play key role in run-in". BBC Sport.
- ^ "FIVE NEW UNITED SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED". Manchester United. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Garnacho overhead kick wins Budweiser Goal of the Month". Premier League. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Garnacho wins Budweiser Goal of the Season award". Premier League. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Spencer, Phil (29 November 2023). "Man United star Alejandro Garnacho does another Cristiano Ronaldo celebration as he silences Galatasaray fans with goal". talkSPORT.
- ^ "Hojlund's first goal gives Man Utd EPIC turnaround win over Villa". Premier League. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Manchester United Stages a Rousing Second-Half Comeback to Beat Aston Villa 3-2". The Associated Press. US News. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Man Utd 3-0 West Ham: Rasmus Hojlund's goal and two from Alejandro Garnacho move Erik ten Hag's team sixth". Sky Sports. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ Marsh, Charlotte (5 April 2024). "Chelsea 4 - 3 Man Utd - Match Report & Highlights". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Yew, Oliver (26 May 2024). "Man City 1-2 Man Utd: Erik ten Hag's side end season on high with stunning FA Cup final win at Wembley". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Opta Analyst (25 May 2024). "Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United Stats: Teenage Dreams for United As They Win FA Cup Final". theanalyst.com. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Man City 1-1 Man Utd (7-6 on pens): Manuel Akanji converts winning spot-kick as champions claim silverware". Sky Sports. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Southampton 0-3 Man Utd: Marcus Rashford scores as Erik ten Hag's side avoid third straight defeat". Sky Sports. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley: Marcus Rashford double helps Erik ten Hag's side humiliate Barnsley in Carabao Cup". Sky Sports. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Garnacho set for 100th United appearance". Manchester United. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "'Lost faith' – Fernandes issues Garnacho concern after midweek clash with fan". Yahoo! Sports. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ "Ruben Amorim explains decision to drop Manchester United stars Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho". NBC Sports. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Garnacho receives Argentina call-up". manutd.com. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ a b "Garnacho's matches". Besoccer. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho receives shock Argentina call-up alongside Lionel Messi". Manchester Evening News. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Garnacho receives Argentina call-up". Manchester United. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Garnacho exclusive: It's an honour for me". Manchester United. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Garnacho called up to Argentina squad". manutd.com. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, Matias Soule of Juventus start for Argentina U20 vs. USA". Mundoalbiceleste. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
- ^ "Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho reacts after impressive international performance". Manchester Evening News. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "[Video] Alejandro Garnacho, Maurice Revello Tournament 2022 revelation". Tournoi Maurice Revello. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "Selección Mayor: lista de convocados para los amistosos ante Panamá y Curazao". AFA (in Spanish). 3 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Alejandro Garnacho: Manchester United winger called up by Argentina". BBC Sport. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Alejandro Garnacho debutó en la Selección: la jugada estelar de Messi que no pudo coronar, el detalle en su dorsal y el guiño argentino de su pareja". Infobae (in Spanish). 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Lionel Scaloni dio a conocer la lista de la Selección argentina para la Copa América 2024". Todo Noticias. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ "Tactical Analysis: Alejandro Garnacho brings excitement and frustration". SB Nation. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Mitten, Andy (11 March 2024). "Alejandro Garnacho: The rise of Manchester United's 'electric' entertainer". The Athletic. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Alejandro Garnacho is right to keep channelling Cristiano Ronaldo - his ceiling is almost as high as the Man Utd legend". GOAL. 5 February 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b Shrestha, Ditika (21 May 2023). "Alejandro Garnacho Parents: Meet Mother Patricia Father Family And Ethnicity". Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Garnacho shares some huge news with fans". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Alejandro Garnacho at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Games played by Alejandro Garnacho in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Games played by Alejandro Garnacho in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Alejandro Garnacho in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Alejandro Garnacho in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Alejandro Garnacho Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Manchester City 1–2 Manchester United: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2023). "Manchester United 2–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Argentina defeats Colombia to Become The Champion of CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™". Copa América. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Man Utd: Garnacho snaps up two tournament awards". BBC Sport. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ "Maurice Revello Tournament 2022 best XI". Tournoi Maurice Revello. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "IFFHS MEN'S YOUTH (U20) WORLD TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ @BBCMOTD (19 May 2024). "💥 The winner is ALEJANDRO GARNACHO 🤩 His spectacular overhead kick against Everton is the 2023-24 Goal of the Season 👏 #MOTD" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 May 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Ganley, Joe (25 May 2024). "Garnacho wins Goal of the Season". Manchester United Football Club. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
External links
- Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
- Alejandro Garnacho – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 2004 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Madrid
- Argentine men's footballers
- Argentina men's youth international footballers
- Argentina men's international footballers
- Spanish men's footballers
- Spain men's youth international footballers
- Argentine sportspeople of Spanish descent
- Spanish people of Argentine descent
- Sportspeople of Argentine descent
- Men's association football wingers
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Premier League players
- 2024 Copa América players
- Argentine expatriate men's footballers
- Spanish expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- Spanish expatriate sportspeople in England
- Argentine expatriate sportspeople in England
- Copa América–winning players
- 21st-century Argentine sportsmen
- 21st-century Spanish sportsmen