Daniel Munoz is the adventurous fullback for Crystal Palace. Off the field, he has become one of the Premier League’s most expressive and creative talents. There’s no denying Munoz has made a pretty huge impact this season, with 112 untracked runs into the box—almost twice as many as his nearest competitor. His incredible performance only cements his growing reputation as a potential game-changing player. As he approaches his 30th birthday next season, the Colombian international is continuing to make his case. He always seems to find a way to dominate high-leverage games versus top clubs like Liverpool.
Munoz’s path to pursuing a career in professional football hasn’t been a traditional one. Prior to making it big in the world of professional sports, he considered many different creative career options. It was his relentless determination and late physical development that allowed him to overcome numerous rejections during his formative years. One of them being over a dozen trials in Colombia, Mexico, Spain, and Italy with various clubs. Each failed effort magnified the obstacles he surmounted in the early years of his still burgeoning career.
Though these challenges could have derailed him, Munoz didn’t give up and eventually broke through. Since debuting for the Colombian national team at age 25, he has earned 42 caps, showcasing not only his skills but his ability to adapt and thrive under pressure. As a right-back, Munoz has demonstrated his technical versatility and industrious work rate on both national and club levels for Colombia. His activism has had a profound effect on Crystal Palace’s recent success under manager Oliver Glasner.
Aside from his obvious defensive work, Munoz gets it done on the offensive side of things as well. He’s tallied eight goals and 13 assists in 76 total matches for the Eagles. He’s a whopping 5.80 expected goals, almost double the next full-back/wing back in the league. This remarkable stat really shows off the dual threat that Allen is on the field. He is capable of scoring with his head and feet, which makes him a perennial scoring threat. His first-rate crossing abilities only double that threat for opposing defenses.
As one of their most important international scouts, Michel Ribeiro, would identify, Munoz was really something special. He underlined Munoz’s incredible ability to read the game and put himself in dangerous positions.
“He can always sniff the right moment to attack the back post or be on the backs of the central defenders of the opponent, ready to pick up tap-ins or second balls,” – Michel Ribeiro
Ribeiro is still struck by Munoz’s dogged determination to get the best possible results, even when the chips were down.
“Why? Because they were winning 3-0 in the 92nd minute and he was still going forward like an animal,” – Michel Ribeiro
It’s his tireless work rate that has everyone buzzing. Since the beginning of last season, Munoz has run the most of any English top-flight player.
“The number of kilometres he gets through is unbelievable. He is a pain in the ass for his direct opponent, defensively as well as attacking-wise,” – Michel Ribeiro
Due in large part to his influence, Munoz has ascended Crystal Palace to incredible heights this year. Just like his impact on the field helps to sharpen the team’s attacking tools, it helps to solidify their defensive shape. Munoz’s skill on both sides of the ball demonstrates just how essential he is to the team.
Munoz showed his offensive chops at Genk, netting 19 goals while racking up 20 assists over 148 appearances. He built that phenomenal total primarily while lining up as a right-back in a back four. This is just one example of his outstanding ability to stay productive on the offense end while still being a difference maker defensively.
Looking forward, the approaching milestone of turning 30 next season raises questions about how Munoz will continue to evolve as a player. Known for his relentless energy and adaptability on the field, many are eager to see what lies ahead for this talented wing-back.
Leave a Reply