Kevin Mirallas - Player Profile
Kevin Mirallas - Player Profile
Kevin Mirallas - Player Profile
What do we know about Kevin Mirallas?
Kevin Mirallas’ father is from Spain, but he was born in Liège, Belgium, on 5 October 1987. Mirallas started playing football with local side Standard Liège, but he never played in the first team. His senior career began in France at Lille and then Saint-Étienne. In June 2010, he moved to Greek side Olympiakos. He helped Olympiakos to win two titles, scoring 14 goals in 27 appearances in 2010/11 and 20 in 25 in 2011/12. He was named the club’s player of the season in his second year with Olympiakos. In total, Mirallas has played for four clubs in three different countries:
- Lille - France (10 goals)
- Saint-Étienne - France (3 goals)
- Olympiakos - Greece (34 goals)
- Everton - England (11 goals - March 2014)
Why did Mirallas join Everton?
Mirallas joined Everton in August 2012 for a reported fee of £6m. "Everton have been following me for a while,” he said, “and after talking with the manager, I decided that coming to Everton was the best opportunity for me. I know this is a great club with great supporters and a club that has the ability to win a lot of games in the Premier League." In his first full game, he scored two goals and made two assists as Everton won 5-0 in the League Cup. Unfortunately, his first season at the Merseyside club was disrupted by injury. However, 2013/14 was a much better season and after Mirallas scored a fantastic late free-kick to win 2-1 against Aston Villa, Everton manager Roberto Martínez said, "Mirallas is developing into an incredible footballer."
What is Mirallas's style of play?
Mirallas is a fast, versatile, attacking player. David Moyes, his first manager at Everton, said: "He's got pace, ability and can play in two or three different positions. He's a really good finisher and has given us a different type of forward."
There is also a hard side to his game: in November 2013 he received a yellow card after a violent collision with Liverpool’s Luis Suárez. “When I made the tackle the first thing I thought was that it was going to be a red card,” Mirallas said. “I was going for the ball but I know I caught him on the knee and I said sorry straight away.” In the Merseyside Derby in October 2012, Suárez made a tackle on Mirallas that left the Belgian injured for 2 weeks.
How is Martínez different to Moyes?
Mirallas had a promising first season with Everton: “I was very happy playing under David Moyes because he’s a good manager.” Then Moyes moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2013, replaced by the Spanish coach Roberto Martínez. “Roberto is different because the Spanish style of playing football is different – it’s my type of football,” says Mirallas. But he talks about a more important difference: “It’s easier because I speak Spanish with Roberto and I understand better. Every day I’ve spoken with him and it’s helped my confidence. I feel I’m more consistent now and I’m playing better and better.”
What country does Mirallas play for?
After playing for the Belgium national team at youth level, Mirallas made his full international debut in 2007 and has made over 40 appearances. He is one of a number of excellent Belgian players currently playing in the Premier League:
Belgium qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil without losing a match. They played Algeria (2-1), Russia (1-0) and South Korea (1-0) in group H. Many see Belgium as a dark horse to win the tournament.
Complete the activities
There were some tricky words in the article. Did you notice these words? Can you match them to their definitions?
Can you remember Kevin Mirallas' official name? Try putting his name together then make sentences about some more Premier League stars.
Did you know...........?
- Kevin Mirallas has the longest name in the Premier League. His official name is Kevin Antonio Joel Gislain Mirallas Y Castillo (40 letters!).
- In 2011/12, Mirallas won the double (both league and cup) in Greece.
- In May 2013, Mirallas scored the Premier League's goal of the month against West Ham Utd.
- The Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool is also called 'The Friendly Derby'.
Quiz
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Kevin Antonio Joel Gislain Mirallas Y Castillo has the longest name in the Premier League.
Are there any players in your country with really long names?
How will Mirallas play for Everton this season?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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Comments
25/01/2023
points
In the history, the genius people's efforts are always disrupted.
25/01/2023 17:22
Tottenham Hotspur
5558
In the history, the genius people's efforts are always disrupted.
31/05/2021
points
Not that I remember of.
I think he played as a winger, sometimes.
31/05/2021 18:56
Arsenal
1512
Not that I remember of.
I think he played as a winger, sometimes.
19/06/2020
points
I remember Bastian Schweinsteiger who played for my Manchester United and has the longest surname.
Mirallas is a versatile player and will fit in any plan so I think he will perform brilliantly.
19/06/2020 16:57
Manchester United
6539
I remember Bastian Schweinsteiger who played for my Manchester United and has the longest surname.
Mirallas is a versatile player and will fit in any plan so I think he will perform brilliantly.
27/07/2018
points
I can
27/07/2018 18:50
Tottenham Hotspur
17
I can
18/06/2016
points
Not really, player names are relatively short in my country
18/06/2016 23:19
Manchester United
4779
Not really, player names are relatively short in my country
18/06/2016
points
He is always in space to convert chances
18/06/2016 23:17
Manchester United
4779
He is always in space to convert chances
18/06/2016
points
Mirallas is a great player
18/06/2016 23:16
Manchester United
4779
Mirallas is a great player
19/03/2016
points
I believe he will play well.
19/03/2016 19:12
Leicester City
1761
I believe he will play well.
19/03/2016
points
No,there aren't
19/03/2016 19:11
Leicester City
1761
No,there aren't
01/03/2016
points
Mirallis is good and talented.
01/03/2016 13:07
Liverpool
3705
Mirallis is good and talented.
12/02/2016
points
In my country, when a small team that can surprise other great teams and win we called "zebra" and not dark horse.
Kevin has played for many years at Everton.
12/02/2016 23:59
Arsenal
663
In my country, when a small team that can surprise other great teams and win we called "zebra" and not dark horse.
Kevin has played for many years at Everton.
25/11/2015
points
I can't actually remember any player with long name from my country..
25/11/2015 21:32
Arsenal
3557
I can't actually remember any player with long name from my country..
17/11/2015
points
Having long names is normal
17/11/2015 12:49
Arsenal
2320
Having long names is normal
10/11/2015
points
I think that Kevin Mirallas is a real weapon. He scores many goals and made some great shots, so the defenders should keep an eye on him - anywhere on the field.
10/11/2015 22:24
Manchester United
456
I think that Kevin Mirallas is a real weapon. He scores many goals and made some great shots, so the defenders should keep an eye on him - anywhere on the field.
12/11/2015
points
I think you're right, but he's having problems getting into the Everton team this season! Why do you think this is?
12/11/2015 08:12
Liverpool
594
I think you're right, but he's having problems getting into the Everton team this season! Why do you think this is?
17/11/2015
points
I think Kevin faces a pretty high competition in Everton midfielder line-up and Roberto Martinez got used to playing him in as a joker.
17/11/2015 12:39
Arsenal
2453
I think Kevin faces a pretty high competition in Everton midfielder line-up and Roberto Martinez got used to playing him in as a joker.
02/11/2015
points
Not really. He is a stunning player.
02/11/2015 09:32
Arsenal
3557
Not really. He is a stunning player.
26/10/2015
points
Yes, there are. This is normal.
26/10/2015 20:53
Chelsea
1339
Yes, there are. This is normal.
01/12/2014
points
Kevin Mirallas scored yesterday fantastic goal for Everton against Tottenham.
But that goal was'nt enough for victory, Spurs win with 2:1.
01/12/2014 09:02
West Ham United
538
Kevin Mirallas scored yesterday fantastic goal for Everton against Tottenham.
But that goal was'nt enough for victory, Spurs win with 2:1.
22/04/2014
points
I am from Brazil. i am fluminense supporter.
I do not about all clubs but in my team the biggest name is Frederico Chaves Guedes.
He plays in Brazilian national team. Your nickname is Fred.
22/04/2014 06:47
0
I am from Brazil. i am fluminense supporter.
I do not about all clubs but in my team the biggest name is Frederico Chaves Guedes.
He plays in Brazilian national team. Your nickname is Fred.
20/03/2014
points
No,there arn't.
20/03/2014 19:54
0
No,there arn't.