Maynor Alexis Figueroa Róchez (born 2 May 1983) is a Honduran footballer who plays for Premier League club Wigan Athletic as a defender.

[edit] Career

Figueroa was born in Jutiapa and was captain of Olimpia, before joining Wigan in 2008. He previously played for Victoria.

In 2007, Figueroa received offers from Major League Soccer clubs, one of which was revealed to be the New England Revolution, but Olimpia's administrator, Osman Madrid, turned down all the offers.

Figueroa has had previous interest from foreign clubs aside from those in the MLS. Club Toluca of Mexico being one of those making offers during 2007. However, during an interview, Madrid indicated the terms sought by other teams had been neither agreeable nor economically favorable to Olimpia or Figueroa.

On December 20, 2007 the Honduran newspaper El Heraldo reported, as a result of interest expressed by the Premier League club Wigan Athletic, Figueroa would be travelling to England. In January 2008, Figueroa joined Wigan on loan for the rest of the 2007–08 season.^[1] In July 2008, after a complicated process involving work permit and visa issues, Figueroa rejoined Wigan on loan for a further six months, after which Wigan had the option to make the deal permanent.^[2]

On December 23, 2008 Wigan announced Figueroa had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract to join the club permanently.^[3] He scored his first goal for Wigan on 11 January 2009. He scored a close range header to secure a late winner against Tottenham Hotspur.^[4]

[edit] Style of play

He is mostly known for his gifted left foot, his powerful shot, his ability to take set-pieces and his long throws.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Personal life

Maynor Figueroa is currently married to Sandra Norales, a professional handball player in England who currently plays for the Sheffield Handball Team of the British Handball Association. She is also an international with the Honduran women's national handball team or Federación Hondureña de Balonmano (FEHBALM).

Sandra and Maynor also have a child named Keyrol Alexis Figueroa. The family currently resides in Wigan, England.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Maynor Figueroa career stats at Soccerbase
• Player profile on www.national-football-teams.com
• [http://www.elheraldo.hn/nota.php?nid=90212&sec=5&fecha=2007-12-20 Newspaper article about trial with

http://www.maynorfigueroa3.com official page about maynor figueroa

v • d • e Honduras squad – 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Coello • 2 Henríquez • 3 Figueroa • 4 Caballero • 5  • 6 Izaguirre • 7 E. Núñez • 8 Palacios • 9 Ramírez • 10 Velásquez • 11 M. Núñez • 13 Berríos • 14 García • 16 Vega • 18 Morán • 19 Turcios • 20 Thomas • 21 Vallecillo • 22 Morales • 23 Guerrero • 24 Guifarro • 25 Garden • Coach: Herrera

v • d • e Honduras squad – 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Puerto • 2  • 3 Figueroa • 4 Caballero • 5 E. Vallecillo • 6 Mendoza • 7 E. Martínez • 8 Palacios • 9 Pavón • 10 de León • 11 J. Martínez • 12 O. Vallecillo • 13 Costly • 14 García • 15 W. Martínez • 16 Oliva • 17 Alvarez • 18 Claros • 19 Rodríguez • 20 Guevara • 21 Izaguirre • 22 Morales • 23 Guerrero • 24 Santamaría • Coach: Rueda