Kevin Mirallas

Kevin Antonio Joel Gislain Mirallas y Castillo (born 5 October 1987), more commonly known as Kevin Mirallas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkeβin miˈɾaʎas]), is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Turkish club Gaziantep and the Belgium national team.

Kevin Mirallas

Mirallas playing for Olympiacos in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Kevin Antonio Joel Gislain Mirallas y Castillo[1]
Date of birth	5 October 1987[2]
Place of birth	Liège, Belgium
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s)	Winger
Club information
Current team	Gaziantep
Number	27
Youth career
1999–2004	Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2008	Lille	76	(10)
2008–2010	Saint-Étienne	53	(3)
2010–2012	Olympiacos	52	(34)
2012–2019	Everton	151	(29)
2018	→ Olympiacos (loan)	13	(2)
2018–2019	→ Fiorentina (loan)	27	(2)
2019–2020	Royal Antwerp	18	(2)
2020–	Gaziantep FK	14	(4)
National team^‡
2003	Belgium U16	10	(8)
2003–2004	Belgium U17	13	(7)
2005	Belgium U18	4	(0)
2005–2006	Belgium U19	16	(4)
2006–2007	Belgium U21	5	(2)
2007–	Belgium	60	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 January 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2018

Mirallas started his professional career in France with Lille and Saint-Étienne before moving to Greece with Olympiacos in 2010. Mirallas enjoyed success during his time at Olympiacos, scoring 34 goals in 52 league games. He was top scorer in his second season with Olympiacos with 20 goals in 25 games. His impressive performances attracted the attention of Everton F.C., who signed him in the summer of 2012 for £6 million.

Mirallas has 60 caps for Belgium since his senior debut in 2007. He has represented Belgium at various youth levels and has featured for them at senior level at the 2008 Olympics as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Mirallas spent his youth career playing for his hometown club, Standard Liège.[4] He then left Belgium and began his first team career in France with Lille OSC in the 2004–05 season.[2] Mirallas participated in the UEFA Cup in his first season at Lille. Mirallas was transferred to AS Saint-Étienne for €4 million, and made a name for himself by scoring against Lyon on his debut in the Rhone-Loire derby.[5]

Olympiacos

In June 2010, Mirallas joined Greek club Olympiacos on a one-year loan for a fee of €2.5 million.[6] Mirallas made his debut in a 5–0 win against KS Besa Kavaje in the Second Qualifying Round of the UEFA Europa League Qualifiers[7] and scored his first two goals for the club in a 3–1 home win against Olympiakos Volos.[8] Mirallas scored in a 2–1 away loss to their greatest rivals Panathinaikos in the Derby of the eternal enemies, after which his contract was extended to four years.[9] Olympiacos won that season's Greek Super League and Mirallas finished as the club's top scorer with 14 goals, with only Panathinaikos's Djibril Cissé scoring more league goals. The following season Mirallas scored his first ever hat-trick for Olympiacos in a 4–0 away win against Levadiakos F.C.[10] and scored four in a 7–2 victory over Asteras Tripolis.[11] Olympiacos again won the league,[12] and Mirallas was the league's top scorer with 20 goals.[13]

Everton

In August 2012, Mirallas joined Premier League club Everton for a reported fee of £6 million.[14] He made his debut as a second-half substitute during a 3–1 league win over Aston Villa at Villa Park in which he had a headed goal disallowed after he was ruled offside.[15] In his first start four days later, Mirallas scored twice and provided two assists as Everton won 5–0 against Leyton Orient in the second round of the League Cup.[16] He scored his first league goal on 22 September 2012, in a 3–0 away win against Swansea City after heading in his initial effort which rebounded off the underside of the bar.[17] Mirallas suffered a number of injuries that limited his playing time during the middle part of the season. He made a number of brief cameos, notably against Tottenham Hotspur in December. Mirallas' next goal came against Oldham Athletic in a 3–1 win on 26 February 2013 in the fifth round of the FA Cup. He then scored his second league goal of the season against Reading in a 3–1 win on 2 March 2013. He scored his first league brace in David Moyes' last home game in charge of Everton, a 2–0 win against West Ham United.[18]

Mirallas warming-up for Everton in 2015

Mirallas scored and assisted a goal during a 3–3 draw in the first Merseyside derby of the 2013–14 season on 23 November.[19] He also received a booking for a high challenge on Luis Suárez, which opposing manager Brendan Rodgers described as reckless and insisted Mirallas was lucky to remain on the pitch.[20] He went on to score eight goals before suffering a season-ending groin injury in April.[21] Mirallas created 61 chances for his teammates during the season, the most of any Everton player.[22]

On 18 September 2014, Mirallas scored his first European goal for Everton in a 4–1 win over Wolfsburg in the first match of their Europa League campaign.[23] He signed a new three-year contract with the club in August 2015.[24]

Mirallas scored his 29th Premier League goal for Everton on 11 March 2017 as Everton cruised to victory over West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park in a 3–0 win.[25] On 12 May 2017, Mirallas signed a new three-year contract deal with Everton until the end of June 2020.[26]

Loans

On 7 January 2018, Mirallas agreed to return to former club Olympiacos on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[27] The club did not have an option to purchase Mirallas as part of the contract.[28] On 16 April, Mirallas scored a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area on the stroke of half-time in a 5–1 home win against Kerkyra.[29] On 4 May, his loan spell was terminated by mutual consent due to Everton's high asking price to purchase Mirallas outright, as well as Mirallas' overall subpar performances with Olympiacos.[30]

On 4 August 2018, Mirallas signed for Fiorentina on a season-long loan deal with the option to make the transfer permanent.[31][32]

Mirallas joined Royal Antwerp on a free transfer in August 2019.[33]

On 5 October 2020, Mirallas joined Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantep.[34]

International career

Mirallas in action against DaMarcus Beasley during an international friendly against the United States on 29 May 2013

Mirallas has represented Belgium at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, and was one of the leading figures in guiding the under-21s to the semi-finals of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

He scored twice in the 2008 Summer Olympics football tournament, once against China (2–0 victory) and once against Italy (3–2 victory).[35] He made his full international debut for the senior team in 2007 and scored his first ever international goal against Serbia in Brussels on 23 August of that year, as a Mousa Dembélé brace helped the Red Devils to a 3–2 home victory.[36]

Mirallas was part of the Belgian squad which reached the quarter-finals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He made his tournament debut in the second group match, a 1–0 win over Russia at the Maracanã, as a 75th-minute substitute for Dries Mertens. In a game of few opportunities, Mirallas hit the post with Belgium's first shot on target. Another substitute, Divock Origi, scored the game's only goal two minutes from full-time.[37]

In May 2018, Mirallas was left out of Belgium's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[38]

Style of play

Mirallas was deployed as a centre forward for Olympiacos, but after his move to Everton he has been deployed mainly as a winger or a free-roaming forward. He is known for his pace, close ball control, passing ability[39] and proficiency in one-on-one situations.

Personal life

Mirallas' father was born in Spain.[40]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 February 2020[2][41][42]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lille	2004–05	Ligue 1	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
	2005–06	Ligue 1	15	1	0	0	2	0	2	0	19	1
	2006–07	Ligue 1	23	2	0	0	2	0	5	0	30	2
	2007–08	Ligue 1	35	6	2	1	0	0	0	0	37	7
	Total		76	10	2	1	4	0	7	0	89	11
Saint-Étienne	2008–09	Ligue 1	30	3	2	0	0	0	8	1	40	4
	2009–10	Ligue 1	23	0	4	1	2	0	0	0	29	1
	Total		53	3	6	1	2	0	8	1	69	5
Olympiacos	2010–11	Super League Greece	27	14	3	0	—		3	0	33	14
	2011–12	Super League Greece	25	20	3	0	—		6	0	34	20
	Total		52	34	6	0	—		9	0	67	34
Everton	2012–13	Premier League	27	6	4	1	2	2	—		33	9
	2013–14	Premier League	32	8[lower-alpha 1]	4	0	1	0	—		37	8
	2014–15	Premier League	29	7	2	1	0	0	5[lower-alpha 2]	3	36	11
	2015–16	Premier League	23	4	3	1	4	1	—		30	6
	2016–17	Premier League	35	4	1	0	1	0	—		37	4
	2017–18	Premier League	5	0	0	0	1	0	7[lower-alpha 2]	0	13	0
	Total		151	29	14	3	9	3	12	3	186	38
Olympiacos (loan)	2017–18	Super League Greece	13	2	3	0	—		—		16	2
Fiorentina (loan)	2018–19	Serie A	27	2	3	0	—		—		30	2
Royal Antwerp	2019–20	Belgian First Division A	16	2	3	0	—		—		19	2
Career total			386	82	37	5	15	3	36	4	474	94

1. Mirallas' Everton F.C. profile gives him nine Premier League goals for the 2013–14 season,[43] one more than do other sources. After the Dubious Goals Panel awarded his goal on 19 October 2013 against Hull City to Gareth Barry,[44] Everton's website added it to Barry's record but failed to subtract it from Mirallas'. For more detail and sources, see Talk:Kevin Mirallas#Everton goals 2013–14.
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 27 March 2018[45]

Belgium
Year	Apps	Goals
2007	6	2
2008	4	1
2009	9	1
2010	2	0
2011	3	0
2012	8	2
2013	10	3
2014	8	0
2015	1	0
2016	4	0
2017	4	1
2018	1	0
Total	60	10

International goals

Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first.[46]

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	22 August 2007	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Serbia	2–0	3–2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
2.	12 September 2007	Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan	Kazakhstan	2–1	2–2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
3.	19 November 2008	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	1–0	1–1	Friendly
4.	14 November 2009	Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent, Belgium	Hungary	3–0	3–0	Friendly
5.	25 May 2012	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Montenegro	1–1	2–2	Friendly
6.	12 October 2012	Stadium Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia	Serbia	3–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
7.	29 May 2013	FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, United States	United States	1–0	4–2	Friendly
8.	6 September 2013	Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom	Scotland	2–0	2–0	2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
9.	19 November 2013	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium	Japan	1–0	2–3	Friendly
10.	28 March 2017	Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia	Russia	1–1	3–3	Friendly

Honours

Club

Olympiacos[2]

• Superleague Greece: 2010–11, 2011–12
• Greek Football Cup: 2011–12

Royal Antwerp

• Belgian Cup: 2019–20

Individual

• Super League Greece top scorer: 2011–12 (20 goals)
• Super League Greece Player of the Season: 2011–12
• BBC Goal of the Month: May 2013[47]

References

1. "Clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
2. "K. Mirallas". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
3. "Everton Football Club Profile". web page. Everton F.C. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
4. "Blues Complete Mirallas Swoop". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
5. "O. Lyon 1–1 AS Saint-Etienne". Goal. 1 February 2009.
6. FIFA.com. "Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) – FIFA".
7. "Μπέσα-Ολυμπιακός 0–5". Sport24. 15 July 2010.
8. "Ολυμπιακός-Ολυμπιακός Βόλου 3–1". Sport24. 2 October 2010.
9. "Η Σεντ Ετιέν ανακοίνωσε Μιραλάς!". Sport24. 1 February 2011.
10. "Mirallas treble sends Olympiacos top". FIFA. 14 December 2011.
11. "OLYMPIACOS F.C. – ASTERAS TRIPOLIS 7–2". Olympiacos.org. 25 March 2012.
12. "Everton have signed forward Kevin Mirallas on a four-year deal from Olympiakos for a fee of about £6m". BBC Sport. 19 August 2012.
13. "Στατιστικά Παικτών". Super League Greece. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
14. "Everton sign Kevin Mirallas from Olympiakos for £6m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
15. "Aston Villa 1–3 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
16. "Everton 5–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
17. "Swansea 0–3 Everton" BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
18. "Mirallas double downs Hammers". West Ham United F.C. 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014.
19. "Everton 3–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
20. "Everton 3–3 Liverpool: Brendan Rodgers angry with Kevin Mirallas". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
21. "Everton's Kevin Mirallas ruled out for rest of season with injury". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
22. "Squawka Awards: A statistical review of Everton's Premier League season". Squawka. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
23. "Everton marked their Europa League return with a dominant victory over Germans Wolfsburg at Goodison Park". BBC Sport. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
24. "Mirallas Pens New Deal". Everton F.C. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
25. Johnston, Neil (11 March 2017). "Everton 3–0 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
26. "Mirallas Signs New Contract". Everton FC. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
27. "Everton forward Kevin Mirallas has rejoined Greek club Olympiakos on loan until the end of the season". BBC Sport. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
28. "Kevin Mirallas leaves Everton for Olympiacos". Sky Sports. 7 January 2018.
29. Ολυμπιακός – Κέρκυρα 5–1: Πεντάρα με την… αύρα του Μαρτίνς (in Greek). www.onsports.gr. 16 April 2018.
30. "Παρελθόν από τον Ολυμπιακό ο Μιραλάς!". Contra.gr. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
31. "Mirallas Poised For Fiorentina Loan Move". 4 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
32. "Mirallas joins Fiorentina". 4 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
33. "Kevin Mirallas leaves Everton to join Royal Antwerp". 30 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
34. "TRANSFER: KEVIN MIRALLAS GAZİANTEP'TE!". 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
35. "Kevin Mirallas Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
36. "Dembélé double downs Serbia". UEFA. 23 August 2007.
37. Chase, Graham (22 June 2014). "Belgium 1–0 Russia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
38. "Belgium World Cup squad: Radja Nainggolan left out of initial 28-man squad for Russia 2018". Independent. 21 May 2018.
39. "World Cup 2014: Player profile - Kevin Mirallas, the Belgium". The Independent. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
40. "Premier Skills English". Archived from the original on 21 May 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
41. "Kevin Mirallas French stats". LFP. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
42. "Kevin Mirallas Personal Detail". Premier League. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
43. "Kevin Mirallas". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
44. Alston, Daniel (28 October 2013). "Barry credited with Hull strike". Everton F.C. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
45. "Kevin Mirallas". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
46. "Kevin Mirallas". eu-football.info. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
47. "Kevin Mirallas – player profile". Premier Skills (British Council). Retrieved 11 February 2015.

External links

• Belgium Stats at Belgian FA
• Kevin Mirallas – UEFA competition record 
• Kevin Mirallas – FIFA competition record
• Kevin Mirallas at L'Équipe Football (in French)
• Kevin Mirallas at Soccerbase
• Kevin Mirallas at National-Football-Teams.com