Luis Milla (footballer, born 1966)

Luis Milla (born Luis Milla Aspas on March 12, 1966) is a Spanish football manager and former player. As a player, Milla primarily operated as a defensive midfielder.

Playing Career:

Milla began his professional career with FC Barcelona, progressing through their youth ranks. He made his debut for the first team in 1984 and remained with the club until 1990. During his time at Barcelona, he won several titles, including La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

In 1990, Milla controversially moved to Real Madrid. He spent seven seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu, adding further league titles and the Copa del Rey to his trophy cabinet. He was a key part of the Real Madrid midfield during this period.

He concluded his La Liga career with Valencia CF, playing for four seasons before retiring in 2001.

International Career:

Milla represented Spain at various youth levels before making his debut for the senior national team in 1989. He was part of the Spanish squad at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He earned a total of three caps for Spain.

Managerial Career:

After retiring as a player, Milla transitioned into coaching. He began his managerial career with the Spanish national youth teams, coaching the under-21 side from 2008 to 2012. He led the under-21s to victory in the 2011 European Championship.

Following his stint with the Spanish youth teams, Milla has managed several club sides, including Al-Jazira, Lugo, Real Zaragoza, and CD Tenerife. He was also the manager of the Indonesia national team from 2017 to 2018. His managerial style is generally regarded as focused on possession-based football and developing young players.