MIKEL Merino’s journey from Osasuna’s youth ranks to becoming a pivotal player for Spain and Real Sociedad is nothing short of inspiring.
His story takes a turn with a heartfelt tribute to his father during a dramatic Euro 2024 moment—discover how this personal connection has shaped his remarkable career.
Mikel Merino Zazón is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Real Sociedad in La Liga and the Spain national team.
Mikel began his football journey at Amigó before joining Osasuna’s youth ranks.
He made his senior debut for Osasuna’s first team in August 2014 and scored his first professional goal in December of that year.
Over the next couple of seasons, he became a key player for Osasuna, helping them reach the promotion play-offs in 2016.
In February 2016, Mikel signed with Borussia Dortmund, but his impact was limited, and he struggled to secure a regular spot.
In July 2017, he joined Newcastle United on loan, with the deal turning permanent later that year.
During his time at Newcastle, he made 25 appearances and scored one goal.
Mikel moved to Real Sociedad in July 2018.
He has been instrumental in the team’s midfield and captained the side on several occasions.
Mikel has represented Spain at various youth levels, winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and the Under-21 Championship in 2019.
In September 2020, he made his senior debut and played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign, including scoring a crucial goal in the quarter-final against Germany.
Spain went on to win the tournament, adding to their record of European championships.
Mikel is set to sign a four-year deal with Arsenal worth over £33m.
Arsenal has finalised the deal with Real Sociedad.
Mikel Merino’s corner flag celebration after scoring Spain’s goal against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals was a touching homage to his father, Ángel Miguel Merino Torres.
He mirrored his father’s iconic celebration from 1991, when Ángel performed the same gesture at the Stuttgart Arena while playing for Osasuna.
The recreation of this celebration, in the same stadium and under similar circumstances, connected a memorable moment from Ángel’s career with Mikel’s achievements, adding a deeply personal layer to his dramatic late winner.
In a post-interview he said: “This stadium has something.
“I’ll remember this for ever. And on top of it all, it happened here.
“A cycle closes which makes me happy. I played my first Spain game in this stadium and my dad scored here.”
His father told Cope, a Spanish radio, about the moment: “We had talked about this subject because he is determined to leave me behind.
“He has done many more things than me but this was the only thing I had left and he is determined to leave me behind again.
“He had not told me but we talked about that coincidence.
“I did not care at all and we had a laugh after the game.
“He told me ‘another goal in Stuttgart, like you’.
“I am super proud of his behaviour, the minutes he played.
“I was emotional, it was special. I had tears in my eyes.
” It was such an important moment… they were on a high and their arrows were pointing upwards .”
