Michu's rise and fall from bargain Swansea move to early retirement and new role

Back in July 2012 there were a number of eye-catching Premier League moves, but Michu's arrival at Swansea City wasn't necessarily one of them.

Robin van Persie had made a sensational Manchester United switch, paving the way for the club to win their 20th Premier League title, while the Eden Hazard battle had been won by Champions League holders Chelsea. Arsenal had also dipped into the transfer market, adding Olivier Giroud after his title-winning turn with Montpellier, and QPR had responded to narrowly surviving relegation by adding the likes of Julio Cesar and Esteban Granero in a summer window which had plenty of people talking.

Amid all that, a £2m deal to bring a relatively unheralded Spaniard to the Liberty Stadium could have easily gone unnoticed. Instead, though, Michu was the talk of the league by the end of the season.

"I really wanted to come to Swansea because of the coach, the style of play and the Premier League," Michu said upon confirming his move to south Wales. "I had other offers.

"I've always followed the Premier League from Spain and I watched a lot of Swansea games last season. They played good football and I liked their style."

The coach in question was Michael Laudrup, who had succeeded Brendan Rodgers' when the Northern Irishman left for Liverpool. Laudrup had previously managed in Spain, impressing with Getafe in particular, and Michu was one of a number of La Liga players to join that summer along with Jonathan de Guzman and Pablo Hernandez.

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It took all of eight minutes for Michu to open his account, and less than 90 for the country to be aware of him. His double in a 5-0 win at QPR on the opening day helped send Laudrup's side joint-top of the table, and he would net again in each of the next two games before reaching double-figures in early December.

In addition to his league record, he helped Laudrup's side embark on a League Cup run which would end in them lifting the trophy for the first time, beating Champions League holders Chelsea in the semi-finals. League Two side Bradford City were the surprise opponents in the final after their own giant-killing exploits, but Michu scored one of five goals for the Swans in a comprehensive victory.

"I'm more popular, especially in Spain, now as Swansea has been a very good move for me," Michu said ahead of the final. "I get a lot of letters, and if it goes well on Sunday I may get more.

"I hope so. I answer all the letters I receive and write back myself. It's important for me to do that.

"When I was a child I would send a postcard to Santa, but if I was a child now and wanted to have a photo or autograph of Michael Laudrup and he answered me back then I would feel really good. I would feel better than Christmas Day."

Laudrup had made it clear in January that he would not be allowing his star man to leave, and the cup win was just reward. Michu ended the season with 22 goals, 18 of those coming in the league where only four players netted more.

It was enough for him to earn a first (and sadly only) Spain cap and catch the eye of a number of up-and-coming talents, among them Erling Haaland. The Norwegian, then still a child and several years away from turning pro, has since developed a friendship with the man he once idolised on the pitch and the pair spoke before Haaland's summer move to Manchester City.

Wembley glory meant European football, and the former Rayo man was on target in four Europa League games. It was fitting that he scored Swansea's first goal in the competition, in a qualifying win at home to Malmo, and he was also on target in a famous group stage victory away to Valencia.

Injuries soon struck, though - first in November and then in December. By the time he returned from the second setback, an ankle issue, Laudrup was gone as manager and Michu's Swans career was all but over.

"Michael and I understood each other very well," Michu told Mundu Esferico (via Wales Online) in 2018. "He was a coach that I liked a lot, left a lot of freedom to the player.

"He gave us possession, rondos...and was the best (laughs). I always understood myself very well because I think we spoke the same language on the field, he always trusted me and well, I had a very good year and I am very grateful."

In the same interview, he expressed his frustration after being forced to play through pain, first at Swansea and then on loan at Napoli. "it is true that I operated and recovered, but you do not find your maximum level again," he explained.

Michu didn't play another competitive minute for Swansea after returning from loan, eventually leaving the club for free before his contract was up. That spelled the end of his top-level career, and at the age of 30 he was playing in Spain's fifth tier for amateur side Langreo.

He rounded off his career by returning to Oviedo, the club where it all started, but eventually called it quits shortly after his 31st birthday in 2017. "Even though I am saying farewell to you with much sorrow, I know we will always be united," he said in a statement, explaining his ankle issues prevented him from continuing his career.

"I feel privileged to have fulfilled a dream that is shared by so many of us since childhood. The dream of becoming a professional player in this sport."

He wasn't done with football altogether, though. At Langreo, Michu played under his brother Hernan, and later rejoined his sibling after taking over as sporting director in 2018.

After briefly returning to Oviedo for a third spell, this time as technical secretary, he joined Burgos as sporting director in 2019. After a mid-table finish in last season's Segunda Division, the club confirmed in April that Michu would continue in his role.

He has returned to Swansea since moving on, and still has a fondness for the club and their supporters many years after playing his final game for the club. While he has remained in a technical role so far, he also shared his plans to get into management when returning to the Liberty Stadium in 2018.

"Now I'm finishing my studies to be a coach, a gaffer," he said, adding that he hoped to become Swansea boss at some point further down the line. "I love football, it's my life, and I don't want to be away from football."