Michu retires after long injury struggle

Michu, the midfielder who helped Swansea City win the League Cup in 2013, has been forced to retire at the age of 31. Spaniard Michu top scored for the Swans with 22 goals in his first season after a £2m move from Rayo Vallecano in 2012. However, within two years of helping Swansea finish ninth in the Premier League, he was playing fourth-flight football in Spain after a recurring ankle injury. Michu spent the 2016-17 season with Oviedo and plans to move into coaching. After starting his career with Oviedo, he played for Celta Vigo before joining Vallecano, and was capped once by Spain in 2013. Signed for just £2m, Michu went on to become arguably the biggest bargain in the Premier League as he made a major contribution to Swansea's historic 2012-13 season. He scored twice in the Swans' opening day 5-0 win over QPR at Loftus Road - manager Michael Laudrup's first Premier League game in charge of the Swans. Among the memorable strikes were two late goals in a 2-0 away win over Arsenal in December 2012, and a trademark cool finish in a 2-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. Michu also scored as the Swans crushed Bradford 5-0 in the final at Wembley to claim their first major English football trophy.

We are sad to hear @Michuoviedo has retired from football...

? Thanks for some fantastic #Swans memories.https://t.co/ZYyadcmKD4— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) July 16, 2017

He ended the season with 22 goals as Swansea finished ninth. He was valued at £30m by the club, who had given the player an extended contract in January 2013. At the start of the 2013-14 season, Michu made his debut for Spain as a replacement in a 2-1 win over Belarus. However, the ankle injury which was to blight the remainder of his career meant his second season in south Wales failed to live up to expectations. Early season highlights, like a goal in the 3-0 away win over Valencia in the Europa League, gave way to frustration as he struggled for first-team appearances.

Remember Michu? The former Swansea attacker has retired aged 31.https://t.co/vTdQd8rvLF pic.twitter.com/nBzshSTDyt— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 17, 2017

Michu played only five times after Christmas 2013 and finished a season in which manager Laudrup departed and was replaced by Garry Monk with six goals in 25 matches. The 1-0 defeat by Hull City on 5 April 2014 turned out to be Michu's last game for the Swans. In the summer of 2014 he joined Serie A side Napoli on a season-long loan - but played only six times. He was released by Swansea in November 2015 and spent a season playing fourth-tier football for Langreo in Spain, before agreeing a one-year deal with Oviedo for 2016-17. Michu made 27 appearances in the 2016-17 last season, but scored just once.