Spain’s hero Mikel Merino paid an emotional tribute to his father Angel with his celebration against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Merino came off the bench to score a stunning header, securing a 2-1 extra-time victory that knocked out the tournament hosts. After scoring, the Real Sociedad midfielder ran to the corner flag, circled it, and looked up to the sky.
This gesture mirrored his father’s celebration from 1991 when Angel Merino scored for Osasuna against Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup at the same stadium, the MHPArena. Mikel Merino expressed his exhaustion and elation after the match, saying, “I’m dead. The adrenaline is taking its toll on me. It was a unique moment.” He highlighted the team’s collective effort and resilience, noting the significance of the venue.
Reflecting on the match, Merino added, “It was the match we were all waiting for, between two of the best in the world. We know how to suffer, we have a great team. There’s something about this stadium that makes us lucky. My father also scored here. And I made my debut.” Spain now advances to the semi-finals, with Merino’s heartfelt celebration marking a poignant family legacy.
Mikel Merino
This season he played in total 32 times for 2499 minutes for La Liga.
Mikel Merino scored 5 goals for Real Sociedad. He procured 3 assists. He received 10 yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 7th in La Liga. In the last match Real Sociedad won 2-0 against Tokyo Verdy.
Real Sociedad performance and stats
It will be Real Sociedad ended the league in the 7th position with 54 points.
In the last 38 games, it has won 16 times, drawn 12 times, and lost 10 times. In its last match, Real Sociedad lost 0-2 against Atlético Madrid.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 48 goals and conceding 37.