1. Personal Information
Michael Amir Murillo Bermúdez was born on 11 February 1996, in Panama City, Panama. He stands at 72 in (182 cm) tall and primarily plays as a defender, specifically a right-back, utilizing his right foot. In Spanish-speaking regions, his first name, MichaelSpanish, is pronounced similarly to its English counterpart.
2. Club Career
Michael Amir Murillo's club career spans several countries, beginning in his native Panama before moving to North America and then Europe, showcasing his development as a versatile right-back.
2.1. San Francisco
Murillo began his professional journey with San Francisco F.C., graduating from their youth setup. He made his senior debut during the 2014-15 season at the age of 18. He quickly became a regular in the first team, enjoying his best season in 2015-16, where he made 21 league appearances and scored 3 goals. On 25 October 2015, Murillo scored his first two goals for the club in a 2-1 victory over Alianza.
On 10 December 2015, Murillo played the entire match in the inaugural Copa Panamá final, helping San Francisco secure their first title by defeating Chepo 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 0-0 following extra time. Earlier, on 26 August 2015, Murillo contributed to a notable 2-1 victory against Mexican side Querétaro FC in a 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League match.
2.2. New York Red Bulls
On 18 February 2017, Murillo joined New York Red Bulls on a season-long loan. He scored his first goal for the club on 29 July 2017, in a dominant 4-0 victory over Montreal Impact. His second goal came on 22 October 2017, in a 2-1 win against rival D.C. United, notably in the last match played at RFK Stadium. Following his successful loan spell, the Red Bulls exercised their contract option to permanently sign him on 11 November 2017.
In 2018, Murillo continued to impress, assisting two goals in New York's 3-1 victory over Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League on 13 March 2018, which helped the club advance to the semifinals of the competition for the first time. He scored his first goal of the 2018 season on 14 April 2018, in another 3-1 victory over Montreal Impact. His strong performances led to his selection for the MLS All-Star Game against Italy's Juventus on 1 August 2018, held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. This made him the first Panamanian player to participate in an MLS All-Star game. During his tenure with the New York Red Bulls, Murillo made a total of 80 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals and providing eight assists, and was part of the team that won the 2018 MLS Supporters' Shield.
2.3. Anderlecht
On 6 December 2019, Murillo transferred from the New York Red Bulls to Belgian side R.S.C. Anderlecht, signing a contract that extended until 2023. He scored his first goal for his new club on 23 February 2020, contributing to a resounding 6-1 victory against K.A.S. Eupen.
2.4. Marseille
On 30 August 2023, Murillo made a move to French football, joining Olympique de Marseille on a five-year contract.
3. International Career
Michael Amir Murillo has been a consistent presence for the Panama national football team, representing his country in various significant tournaments and playing a crucial role in their historic achievements.
3.1. Panama National Team Debut and Activities
Murillo received his first call-up to the Panama national team and made his debut in 2016. He scored his first international goal on 27 April 2016, in a 2-1 victory over Martinique.
3.2. Major Tournament Participation
Murillo was an integral part of Panama's historic qualification for their first-ever FIFA World Cup. He started three of Panama's ten CONCACAF Hexagonal matches in the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In May 2018, he was named to Panama's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. During the tournament, Murillo started as the right-back in Panama's group stage matches against Belgium and England. He received a yellow card in each of these two matches, which resulted in him being ineligible to play in the team's final group match against Tunisia.
He has also participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, scoring against Martinique in the 2017 edition (a 3-0 win on 15 July 2017) and again in the 2023 edition (a 2-1 win on 30 June 2023), where Panama finished as runners-up. Additionally, he was part of the Panama squad that finished as runner-up in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana. In the 2024 Copa América, Murillo scored a goal against Uruguay on 23 June 2024, in a match that ended in a 1-3 loss.
4. Career Statistics
4.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| San Francisco | 2014-15 | Liga Panameña de Fútbol | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2015-16 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2016-17 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 42 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 51 | 3 | |||
| New York Red Bulls (loan) | 2017 | MLS | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| New York Red Bulls | 2018 | MLS | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| 2019 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 25 | 1 | |||
| Total | 62 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 80 | 4 | ||
| Anderlecht | 2019-20 | Belgian Pro League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2020-21 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 39 | 4 | |||
| 2021-22 | 34 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 42 | 3 | |||
| 2022-23 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 3 | - | 45 | 6 | |||
| Total | 107 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 17 | 3 | - | 134 | 14 | |||
| Marseille | 2023-24 | Ligue 1 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 25 | 3 | |
| 2024-25 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 22 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 47 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 249 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 36 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 312 | 25 | ||
4.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 2016 | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 80 | 9 | |
Scores and results list Panama's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Murillo goal (includes one unofficial goal).
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 April 2016 | Stade Pierre-Aliker, Fort-de-France, Martinique | Martinique | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 15 July 2017 | FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, United States | Martinique | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 3 | 27 September 2022 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | Bahrain | 1-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 18 November 2022 | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Cameroon | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 10 June 2023 | Estadio Universidad Latina, Penonomé, Panama | Nicaragua | 1-1 | 3-2 | Friendly |
| 6 | 2-2 | |||||
| 7 | 30 June 2023 | Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States | Martinique | 2-0 | 2-1 | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 8 | 16 November 2023 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica | Costa Rica | 1-0 | 3-0 | 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League |
| 9 | 23 June 2024 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States | Uruguay | 1-3 | 1-3 | 2024 Copa América |
5. Honours
Michael Amir Murillo has achieved several team and individual accolades throughout his professional career.
5.1. Club Honours
- San Francisco
- Copa Panamá: 2015
- New York Red Bulls
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 2018
- U.S. Open Cup runner-up: 2017
- Anderlecht
- Belgian Cup runner-up: 2021-22
5.2. International Honours
- Panama U20
- CONCACAF U-20 Championship runner-up: 2015
- Panama
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023
- Copa Centroamericana runner-up: 2017
5.3. Individual Honours
- CONCACAF Champions League Best XI: 2018
- MLS All-Star: 2018
6. Legacy and Impact
Michael Amir Murillo's career has had a significant impact on Panamanian football, establishing him as a key figure and an inspiration for future generations. As the first Panamanian to participate in an MLS All-Star Game, he broke new ground for players from his nation in major international leagues. His consistent performance at high levels, from the CONCACAF Champions League to the FIFA World Cup and top European leagues, showcases the potential of Panamanian talent on the global stage. Murillo's journey serves as an inspirational role model for aspiring athletes in Panama, demonstrating that dedication and skill can lead to success in professional football at the highest levels.