Izan Merino RodrÃÂguez (born 15 April 2006) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Segunda División club Málaga CF. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he can also play as a centre-back.
Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Merino joined Málaga CF's youth setup in 2015, aged nine. He made his senior debut with the reserves on 16 October 2022, starting in a 1âÂÂ1 Tercera Federación home draw against FC Málaga City.
Merino made his first team debut on 6 December 2023, starting in a 1âÂÂ0 home win over CD Eldense, for the season's Copa del Rey. He featured in five Primera Federación matches in the remainder of the campaign, as his side achieved promotion to Segunda División.
Merino made his professional debut on 17 August 2024, coming on as a late substitute for Juanpe in a 2âÂÂ2 away draw against Racing de Ferrol.
Merino is a Spain youth international. He was included in the Spain U17 squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Hungary, and in October of the same year was selected for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. He has also represented Spain at under-18 level in friendly matches.
Merino later received a call-up to the Spain U19 for the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania. He was a regular starter throughout the tournament, scoring in the group-stage match against Denmark. He also played the full 120 minutes in the semi-final against Germany, which Spain won 6âÂÂ5 after extra time. He started in the final, where Spain were defeated 1âÂÂ0 by the Netherlands and finished as runners-up.
In September 2025, Merino was called up to the Spain U20 squad for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. He started in the quarter-final match against Colombia, which ended in a 3âÂÂ2 defeat and SpainâÂÂs elimination from the tournament.
Spain U19