Saúl Ñíguez, a Spanish professional footballer, has made a name for himself as a central or defensive midfielder for Atlético Madrid. With over 250 matches under his belt since his debut in 2010, Saúl’s skills and dedication have been evident throughout his career. He has also represented the national youth team, contributing to their success in the UEFA European Championships. Although he was part of the senior Spanish team for the 2018 World Cup, he did not see any playing time.
Quick Facts
- Name: Saúl Ñíguez Esclápez
- Age: 29 Years
- Born Country: Spain
- Family:
- Father: José Antonio Ñíguez
- Mother: Pilar Esclápez
- Siblings: Aarón Ñíguez, Jony
- Occupation: Football Player
- Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
Childhood & Early Life
Saúl Ñíguez Esclápez was born on November 21, 1994, in Elche, Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain, to Jose Antonio Niguez and Pilar Esclapez. His father played as a striker for Elche CF for several years, and his two brothers, Aarón and Jonathan, were also footballers. Saúl was enrolled at the Elche CF academy by his father, and in 2006, he was acquired by the Real Madrid academy. However, he faced bullying there, which led him to switch to their cross-city rivals, Atlético Madrid, in 2008.
Club Career
Saúl Ñíguez made his senior debut for the Atlético Madrid B team during the 2010-11 season. He scored his first goal in a 3-1 away win against Extremadura UD on April 10, 2011. He joined the main squad of Atlético for pre-season training in the summer of 2011 and scored two goals in a 19-1 friendly win over CD Arcángel in July that year. He made his official debut with the Atlético Madrid first team on March 8, 2012, at the age of 17 years and 108 days in a UEFA Europa League game against Beşiktaş JK. He continued to make appearances for the team, both as a substitute and in starting lineups, and became a core midfielder for the team during the 2015-16 season. He has had notable performances in UEFA Champions League matches, scoring important goals for the team. Saúl signed a new nine-year contract with Atlético on July 1, 2017.
National Career
Saúl Ñíguez began his international career with the Spain U16 team in 2009. He went on to represent the U19 team and helped them win the ‘2012 UEFA European Championship’, where he was named to the ‘Team of the Tournament’. He also had success with the U21 team, becoming the top scorer at the ‘2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship’. He made his full debut for the senior national team on September 1, 2016, in a friendly win against Belgium. He was also selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup but did not make an appearance. Saúl scored his first goal for the national team in a win against England at the UEFA Nations League in September 2018.
Family & Personal Life
Saúl Ñíguez has been in a relationship with a woman named Yaiza for the past few years. He often shares pictures from their romantic outings on his Instagram profile.
Trivia
Saúl Ñíguez is known for being able to adapt his playing style to both Diego Simeone’s style at Atlético Madrid and Barcelona’s style.