Milton Núñez

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Milton Núñez

| image =

| image_size = 250

| caption =

| full_name = Milton Omar Núñez García

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|10|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sambo Creek, Honduras

| height = 1.65 m{{cite web |title=Milton Núñez |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/2922/Milton_Nunez.html |website=National Football Teams |accessdate=15 December 2018}}{{cite web |title=Milton Nuñez |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/milton-nunez/ |website=worldfootball.net |accessdate=15 December 2018}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1991–1993

| clubs1 = Deportes Progreseño

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1993

| clubs2 = Real España

| caps2 = 12

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1994–1998

| clubs3 = Comunicaciones

| caps3 = 77

| goals3 = 16

| years4 = 1998–1999

| clubs4 = Nacional

| caps4 = 40

| goals4 = 15

| years5 = 1999–2000

| clubs5 = PAOK

| caps5 = 10

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2000–2001

| clubs6 = Sunderland

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2001

| clubs7 = Nacional

| caps7 = 17

| goals7 = 4

| years8 = 2002

| clubs8 = Comunicaciones

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| years9 = 2002

| clubs9 = Pachuca

| caps9 = 18

| goals9 = 2

| years10 = 2003–2004

| clubs10 = Necaxa

| caps10 = 28

| goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2004–2005

| clubs11 = Marathón

| caps11 = 32

| goals11 = 9

| years12 = 2005

| clubs12 = Comunicaciones

| caps12 = 11

| goals12 = 2

| years13 = 2006–2007

| clubs13 = Real España

| caps13 = 41

| goals13 = 11

| years14 = 2007–2008

| clubs14 = Olimpia

| caps14 = 24

| goals14 = 5

| years15 = 2008–2009

| clubs15 = Marathón

| caps15 = 26

| goals15 = 7

| years16 = 2009

| clubs16 = Jalapa

| caps16 = 16

| goals16 = 3

| years17 = 2010

| clubs17 = Universidad SC

| caps17 = 22

| goals17 = 6

| years18 = 2010–2011

| clubs18 = Comunicaciones

| caps18 =

| goals18 =

| years19 = 2011–2017

| clubs19 = Universidad SC

| caps19 =

| goals19 =

| years20 = 2018–2019

| clubs20 = Deportivo Ayutla

| caps20 =

| goals20 =

| years21 = 2019–2020

| clubs21 = Victoria

| caps21 =

| goals21 =

| nationalyears1 = 1994–2008

| nationalteam1 = Honduras{{cite news |title=Milton Omar Núñez – Goals in International Matches |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mnunez-intlg.html |publisher=The RSSSF Archive |date=3 November 2006 |accessdate=15 October 2007}}

| nationalcaps1 = 86

| nationalgoals1 = 33

}}

Milton Omar Núñez García (born 30 October 1972) is a retired Honduran footballer.

Nuñez played a few seasons in Honduras before moving abroad to play for Comunicaciones in Guatemala and for Nacional in Uruguay. He then briefly appeared for PAOK in the Superleague Greece and for Sunderland in the Premier League.

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Sambo Creek, Honduras, Nuñez played a few seasons in Honduras with Deportes Progreseño and Real España before moving abroad to play for Guatemalan side Comunicaciones and for Uruguayan club Nacional.

=PAOK=

In 1999, Nuñez joined Greek club PAOK.

=Sunderland=

In March 2000, Nuñez signed for Premier League side Sunderland. The transfer fee paid to former club Nacional was reported as £1.6 million plus a possible further £1 million in bonuses.{{cite news |title=Sunderland top transfer deadline deals |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/687957.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=23 March 2000 |accessdate=13 April 2012}}

One theory surrounding his signing is that Peter Reid, who was the manager when Núñez was brought to the Stadium of Light, thought that he had signed Núñez's strike partner at PAOK, Adolfo Valencia, and not Núñez himself. Núñez himself claimed in an interview that Sunderland had thought that Valencia and Nunez's international team-mate Eduardo Bennett, both of whom were of a similar build, were the same player, and had watched both of them play for PAOK and Honduras respectively assuming they had seen the same player twice. In the confusion, they had ended up signing Núñez by mistake, with the diminutive forward being the only Honduran player at PAOK.{{Cite web |url=https://www.diez.hn/legionarios/1371657-498/tyson-nunez-fichaje-sunderland-inglaterra-eduardo-bennett-tren-valencia-premier-league |title=Tyson Ñúñez cuenta la verdad sobre su fichaje con el Sunderland de Inglaterra}} Sunderland later went to court over the transfer as Nunez was owned by Uruguayan third tier team Uruguay Montevideo at the time of his move to Wearside, although he never played for them.{{cite news |url=http://www.espnfc.com/england/news/2001/1015/20011015safcnunez.html |title=Nunez compensation}}[https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/move-in-sight-for-nunez-1682045 Move in sight for Nunez] Nunez stayed in England for two years before returning to Nacional, after playing just once for Sunderland against Wimbledon in the league{{cite news |url=http://sportinglive.co.uk/football/premiership/sunderland/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/04/08/SOCCER_Sunderland.html&TEAMHD=sunderland&DIV=prem&TEAM=SUNDERLAND&RH=Sunderland&PREV_SEASON=1998&BID= |title=Sunderland 2 Wimbledon 1 |publisher=Sporting Life |accessdate=15 December 2012 |url-status = dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130421074337/http://sportinglive.co.uk/football/premiership/sunderland/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/04/08/SOCCER_Sunderland.html&TEAMHD=sunderland&DIV=prem&TEAM=SUNDERLAND&RH=Sunderland&PREV_SEASON=1998&BID= |archivedate=21 April 2013}} and Luton Town in the League Cup.{{cite news |url=http://clients.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/sunderland/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/09/26/SOCCER_Luton.html&TEAMHD=sunderland&DIV=prem&TEAM=SUNDERLAND&RH=Sunderland&PREV_SEASON=1999&BID= |title=Luton 1 Sunderland 2 (Agg 1–5) |publisher=Sporting Life |accessdate=15 December 2012 |url-status = dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130203015158/http://clients.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/sunderland/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/00/09/26/SOCCER_Luton.html&TEAMHD=sunderland&DIV=prem&TEAM=SUNDERLAND&RH=Sunderland&PREV_SEASON=1999&BID= |archivedate=3 February 2013}} He later played for Pachuca and Necaxa.

=Back in Honduras=

Núñez returned to his native Honduras in 2004 and he signed for Olimpia in summer 2007[http://old.latribuna.hn/2007/07/19/post10013803/ Llegó el nuevo refuerzo albo] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130412221150/http://old.latribuna.hn/2007/07/19/post10013803/ |date=12 April 2013 }} – La Tribuna {{in lang|es}} and in June 2008 he rejoined Marathón[http://old.latribuna.hn/2008/06/16/post10036131/ Novedad en Marathón son tres refuerzos] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130412222753/http://old.latribuna.hn/2008/06/16/post10036131/ |date=12 April 2013 }} – La Tribuna {{in lang|es}} before moving abroad again.

=Guatemala=

In 2009, Núñez crossed the border to play for Guatemalan side Jalapa[http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/07/31/Noticias/Tyson-Nunez-pasa-al-Jalapa-de-Guatemala "Tyson" Núñez pasa al Jalapa de Guatemala] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130412220707/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/07/31/Noticias/Tyson-Nunez-pasa-al-Jalapa-de-Guatemala |date=12 April 2013 }} – La Prensa {{in lang|es}} and then joined USAC for the 2010 Clausura championship, along with Selvin Motta and former national team goalkeeper Paulo César Motta.[http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2010/febrero/10/374485.html Selvin Motta, Milton Núñez y Paulo Motta están felices en la U] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20100216193713/http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2010/febrero/10/374485.html |date=16 February 2010 }} – Prensa Libre {{in lang|es}} In June 2010, he rejoined Comunicaciones[http://noticias.emisorasunidas.com/noticias/deportes-futbol-nacional/milton-omar-tyson-nunez-garcia-refuerzo-crema Milton Omar "Tyson" Núñez García refuerzo crema] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710191356/http://noticias.emisorasunidas.com/noticias/deportes-futbol-nacional/milton-omar-tyson-nunez-garcia-refuerzo-crema |date=10 July 2011 }} – Radio Emisoras Unidas {{in lang|es}} before joining Universidad SC the following year.

In February 2013, a historic fine was imposed on a Guatemalan football club after fans of Heredia racially abused USAC's black striker Núñez.[http://www.fifpro.org/news/news_details/2203 FIFPro disturbed by racist abuse of Milton Núñez] – FIFPRO

Núñez left USAC in 2017 before joining third tier team Deportivo Ayutla in September 2018.[https://diarioroatan.com/milton-tyson-nunez-confirma-que-jugara-en-el-ayutla-de-guatemala/ Milton “Tyson» Núñez Confirma Que Jugará En El Ayutla De Guatemala]

=Victoria=

In June 2019, Nunez signed a contract with Victoria, where he would play alongside his son, also named Milton.[https://www.latribuna.hn/2019/06/25/tyson-nunez-y-su-hijo-buscaran-el-ascenso-con-victoria/ “Tyson” Núñez y su hijo buscarán el ascenso con Victoria]

International career

Tyson made his debut for Honduras in a May 1994 Miami Cup match against El Salvador and has earned a total of 86 caps, scoring 33 goals, making him third on Honduras' national team's all-time goalscorers list.

He has represented his country in 24 FIFA World Cup qualification matches{{FIFA player|170270}} and played at the 1995,[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam95.html UNCAF Tournament 1995] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514025907/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/gold-cam95.html |date=14 May 2011 }} – RSSSF 1997,[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/gold-cam97det.html UNCAF Tournament 1997]{{dead link|date=February 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} – RSSSF 1999,[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam99.html UNCAF Tournament 1999] – RSSSF 2001,[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam01det.html Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2001 – Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024005059/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/gold-cam01det.html |date=24 October 2008 }} – RSSSF2003[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam03det.html Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2003 – Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426122234/http://rsssf.com/tablesg/gold-cam03det.html |date=26 April 2009 }} – RSSSF and 2005 UNCAF Nations Cups[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam05det.html Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2005 – Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402133826/http://rsssf.com/tablesg/gold-cam05det.html |date=2 April 2009 }} – RSSSF as well as at the 1996,[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/96gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1996 – Full Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121072256/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/96gc-full.html |date=21 November 2008 }} – RSSSF 2000[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2000 – Full Details] – RSSSF and 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cups.[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/05gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2005 – Full Details] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024022300/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/05gc-full.html |date=24 October 2008 }} – RSSSF

His final international was an October 2008 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Jamaica.

Personal life

Nuñez received the nickname Tyson due to his resemblance to former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Ismael |title=Desafíe a Ismael |url=http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/01/01/Noticias/Desafie-a-Ismael |accessdate=15 December 2018 |work=La Prensa |date=31 December 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928105731/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/01/01/Noticias/Desafie-a-Ismael |archivedate=28 September 2013 |language=Spanish}}

Career statistics

=Club=

Sources:

=International goals=

Source:

class="wikitable" ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
1.	5 May 1994	Miami, United States	{{fb\|PER}}	2–1	Win	Miami Cup
2.	3 December 1995	Santa Ana, El Salvador	{{fb\|GUA}}	2–0	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1995
3.	10 December 1995	San Salvador, El Salvador	{{fb\|GUA}}	3–0	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1995
4.	6 March 1996	Miami, United States	{{fb\|COL}}	1–2	Loss	Friendly
5.	17 November 1996	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|VIN}}	11–3	Win	World Cup 1998 Qualifier
6.	17 November 1996	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|VIN}}	11–3	Win	World Cup 1998 Qualifier
7.	18 April 1997	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|SLV}}	3–0	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1997
8.	17 March 1999	San José, Costa Rica	{{fb\|BLZ}}	5–1	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1999
9.	24 March 1999	San José, Costa Rica	{{fb\|SLV}}	3–1	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1999
10.	24 March 1999	San José, Costa Rica	{{fb\|SLV}}	3–1	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 1999
11.	9 February 2000	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|SLV}}	5–1	Win	Friendly
12.	9 February 2000	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|SLV}}	5–1	Win	Friendly
13.	16 February 2000	Miami, United States	{{fb\|COL}}	2–0	Win	2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
14.	4 March 2000	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|NIC}}	3–0	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
15.	7 May 2000	Tegucigalpa, Honduras	{{fb\|PAN}}	3–1	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
16.	3 June 2000	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|HAI}}	4–0	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
17.	17 June 2000	Port au Prince, Haiti	{{fb\|HAI}}	3–1	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
18.	28 February 2001	San José, Costa Rica	{{fb\|CRC}}	2–2	Tie	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
19.	23 May 2001	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|PAN}}	1–2	Loss	UNCAF Nations Cup 2001
20.	25 May 2001	Tegucigalpa, Honduras	{{fb\|NIC}}	10–2	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2001
21.	25 May 2001	Tegucigalpa, Honduras	{{fb\|NIC}}	10–2	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2001
22.	1 September 2001	Washington DC, United States	{{fb\|USA}}	3–2	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
23.	1 September 2001	Washington DC, United States	{{fb\|USA}}	3–2	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
24.	5 September 2001	Tegucigalpa, Honduras	{{fb\|JAM}}	1–0	Win	World Cup 2002 Qualifier
25.	20 November 2002	San Pedro Sula, Honduras	{{fb\|COL}}	1–0	Win	Friendly
26.	31 March 2004	Kingston, Jamaica	{{fb\|JAM}}	2–2	Tie	Friendly
27.	19 February 2005	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|NIC}}	5–1	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2005
28.	19 February 2005	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|NIC}}	5–1	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2005
29.	21 February 2005	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|BLZ}}	4–0	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2005
30.	21 February 2005	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|BLZ}}	4–0	Win	UNCAF Nations Cup 2005
31.	27 February 2005	Guatemala City, Guatemala	{{fb\|CRC}}	1–1	Tie	UNCAF Nations Cup 2005
32.	16 July 2005	Foxboro, United States	{{fb\|CRC}}	3–2	Win	2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
33.	7 October 2006	Fort Lauderdale, United States	{{fb\|GUA}}	3–2	Win	Friendly