Miller Bolaños


Miller Alejandro Bolaños Reasco is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a striker for Ecuadorian Serie B club 9 de Octubre.

Club career

LDU Quito

Bolaños was born in Esmeraldas, and began his career in the youth ranks of Caribe Junior. In 2006, he joined Barcelona SC and made his professional debut the same year. In 2009 the promising forward was transferred to LDU Quito. On 29 August 2009 in a 4–0 win over LDU Portoviejo, Bolaños scored the 2,500th goal in LDU Quito's history. He was an important player for LDU Quito during the most glorious period of the club's history as he helped the Ecuadorian club capture the 2010 Serie A title, 2009 Copa Sudamericana, and the 2009 and 2010 Recopa Sudamericana.

Loan to Chivas USA

On 11 January 2012, it was announced that Bolaños would be joining Chivas USA in Major League Soccer, accompanying compatriot Oswaldo Minda. On 18 July, he scored his first MLS goal against the Portland Timbers at The Home Depot Center, finishing a Ryan Smith pass for the only goal of the game in the 16th minute.

Loan to Emelec

Miller joined Emelec by loan on the summer of 2013. Though Miller only played 5 league games, he won the 2013 Ecuadorian Serie A season.
Miller scored 19 league-goals in 36 games, including 2 goals in the season final match against club-rivals Barcelona SC, winning the 2014 Ecuadorian Serie A. Miller Bolaños became top scorer in the 2014 Copa Sudamericana with 5 goals. During the 2013 season he noticeably formed a successful striking partnership with Denis Stracqualursi which was known affectionately as Straq-Bol by Emelec fans. This was a play on words of Spag-Bol, the Italian pasta dish.

Grêmio

On 7 February 2016, it was confirmed that Miller would play for Grêmio.

International career

Bolaños represented Ecuador at various youth levels. He participated in the 2007 South American Under-17 Football Championship, helping Ecuador to a 5–4 victory over Brazil.
Bolaños made his debut for Ecuador on 28 March 2015 in a match against Mexico, playing all 90 minutes of the game. Three days later he went on to score his first goal, equalising in a 2–1 friendly loss to Argentina in New Jersey.
Bolaños was selected for the 2015 Copa América in Chile, his first major international tournament. In the opening game against the hosts at the Estadio Nacional, he fouled Arturo Vidal, who consequently scored the first goal of the tournament from the penalty spot as his team defeated Ecuador 2–0. In the second match, he scored from outside the penalty area, albeit in a 3–2 defeat against Bolivia. In the third match in Rancagua, he opened the scoring in a 2–1 victory over Mexico which eliminated the opponents, also setting up the second for Enner Valencia.

Personal life

His older brother is Álex Bolaños, also a midfielder. He too represented Barcelona and LDU among others, and played internationally for their country.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
11 April 2015MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, United States1–11–2Friendly
26 June 2015Estadio George Capwell, Guayaquil, Ecuador1–04–0Friendly
315 June 2015Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, Chile2–32–32015 Copa América
419 June 2015Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile1–02–12015 Copa América
58 September 2015Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador2–02–0Friendly
613 October 2015Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador1–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
78 June 2016University of Phoenix, Glendale, United States2–22–2Copa América Centenario
815 November 2016Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito, Ecuador2–03–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honors

LDU Quito
Emelec
Gremio
Individual