Corona (footballer)

Corona (footballer)
Miguel Ángel García Pérez-Roldán (born 12 February 1981), known as Corona, is a Spanish former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is the current director of football of Valencia CF.
After starting out at Real Madrid, he spent most of his career at Almería, appearing in 333 official matches and scoring 23 goals. He also played professionally in Australia.
Club career
Real Madrid and Zaragoza
Corona was born in Talavera de la Reina, Province of Toledo. A product of La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid, he played for their C and B teams, the latter competing in the Segunda División B.
Corona was signed by Real Zaragoza in January 2001, but only appeared in 33 top-division games for the Aragonese over four seasons, with loans in the Segunda División in between (one season with Polideportivo Ejido, six months with Albacete Balompié).
Almería
Corona was loaned again in 2006–07, now to UD Almería, being instrumental in the Andalusia side's first-ever promotion to the top flight and reuniting with his former Zaragoza teammate Fernando Soriano. The move was made permanent for the following campaign, and both players were instrumental as the team went on to finish eighth in their maiden season in that league.
Corona scored his first goal in the top division with a header, in a 2–1 away defeat against CA Osasuna on 9 March 2008, his only in the season. He continued to be a regular in the subsequent years, often starting but rarely finishing a match.
On 19 January 2011, Corona scored one of Almería's most important goals, in a 3–2 win at Deportivo de La Coruña (4–2 on aggregate), with the club reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey for the first time ever. On 9 April, through a counter-attack, he opened the score for the last-placed team at FC Barcelona – his second goal of the season – but the hosts eventually won 3–1, and the visitors eventually suffered relegation after a four-year stay.
In the following two seasons in division two, Corona was an undisputed starter for the Rojiblancos, totalling seven goals. However, he was sparingly used during the first half of 2013–14's top flight, regaining his starting position in mid-March 2014 and thus becoming the third player with most appearances in the competition for the club.
Brisbane Roar
Corona terminated his contract with Almería on 23 September 2015, and signed for Australian A-League side Brisbane Roar FC the following week. He left the former with competitive totals of 312 games and 23 goals, only behind José Ortiz.
On 12 May 2016, Corona won the 'Gary Wilkins Medal' as the Roar's Player of the Year.
Return to Almería
After cutting ties with Brisbane, Corona returned to Almería on 15 July 2016 after agreeing to a one-year deal. He was used mainly as a substitute during the second-tier campaign, contributing 580 minutes as his team avoided relegation in the last matchday.
On 15 June 2017, the 36-year-old Corona announced his retirement and was immediately appointed Almería's director of football. In January 2020, he joined Valencia CF in the same capacity.
Career statistics
Honours
Spain
UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 1997
Individual
PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2015–16
References
External links
1981 births
Living people
Spanish men's footballers
Footballers from the Province of Toledo
Men's association football midfielders
La Liga players
Segunda División players
Segunda División B players
Real Madrid C footballers
Real Madrid Castilla footballers
Real Zaragoza players
Polideportivo Ejido footballers
Albacete Balompié players
UD Almería players
A-League Men players
Brisbane Roar FC players
Spain men's youth international footballers
Spain men's under-21 international footballers
Spanish expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Australia
Valencia CF non-playing staff