Milton Núñez


Milton Omar Núñez García, commonly known as Tyson Núñez, is a Honduran former professional footballer.
Nuñez played a few seasons in Honduras before moving abroad to play for Comunicaciones in Guatemala and for [Club Club Nacional de Football|Nacional de Football|Nacional] in Uruguay. He then briefly appeared for PAOK in the Super League 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.
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. 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. Nunez stayed in England for two years before returning to Nacional, after playing just once for Sunderland against Wimbledon in the league and Luton Town in the League Cup. 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 and in June 2008 he rejoined Marathón before moving abroad again.

Guatemala

In 2009, Núñez crossed the border to play for Guatemalan side Jalapa and then joined USAC for the 2010 Clausura championship, along with Selvin Motta and former national team goalkeeper Paulo César Motta. In June 2010, he rejoined Comunicaciones 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.
Núñez left USAC in 2017 before joining third tier team Deportivo Ayutla in September 2018.

Victoria

In June 2019, Nunez signed a contract with Victoria, where he would play alongside his son, also named Milton.

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 and played at the 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001,2003 and 2005 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 1996, 2000 and 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
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.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States2–12–1Friendly
2Estadio Óscar Quiteño, Santa Ana, El Salvador2–02–01995 UNCAF Nations Cup
3Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador1–03–01995 UNCAF Nations Cup
4Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States1–01–2Friendly
5Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras9–211–31998 FIFA World Cup qualification
6Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras11–311–31998 FIFA World Cup qualification
7Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala3–03–01997 UNCAF Nations Cup
8Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica2–05–11999 UNCAF Nations Cup
9Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica1–03–11999 UNCAF Nations Cup
10Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica2–13–11999 UNCAF Nations Cup
11Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras2–05–1Friendly
12Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras4–05–1Friendly
13Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States2–02–02000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
14Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras3–03–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
15Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, Tegucigalpa, Honduras3–13–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification
16Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras1–04–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
17Stade Sylvio Cator, Port-au-Prince, Haiti2–03–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification
18Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica2–12–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
19Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras1–11–22001 UNCAF Nations Cup
20Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras6–110–22001 UNCAF Nations Cup
21Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras9–110–22001 UNCAF Nations Cup
22RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States1–13–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
23RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States3–13–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
24Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, Tegucigalpa, Honduras1–01–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
25Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras1–01–0Friendly
26National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica2–22–2Friendly
27Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala1–05–12005 UNCAF Nations Cup
28Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala5–15–12005 UNCAF Nations Cup
29Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala2–04–02005 UNCAF Nations Cup
30Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala3–04–02005 UNCAF Nations Cup
31Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, Guatemala City, Guatemala1–01–12005 UNCAF Nations Cup
32Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, United States3–03–22005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
33Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States1–23–2Friendly

Honours and awards

Club

Comunicaciones
Nacional
Marathón
Real Espana
Olimpia

Country

Honduras

Individual