Esteban Solari
Argentine football player and manager (born 1980)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Esteban Andrés Solari Poggio (Spanish pronunciation: [esˈteβan soˈlaɾi]; born 2 June 1980) is an Argentine football manager and former professional player who played as a forward. He is the head coach of Liga MX club Pachuca.
|
Solari as Johor Darul Ta'zim manager in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Esteban Andrés Solari Poggio | ||
| Date of birth | 2 June 1980[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina[1] | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Pachuca (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Vélez Sarsfield | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001 | Estudiantes | 9 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Defensa y Justicia | 15 | (7) |
| 2002 | Argentinos Juniors | 4 | (0) |
| 2003 | Gimnasia Jujuy | 13 | (4) |
| 2003–2004 | Chioggia | 18 | (12) |
| 2004–2005 | Lierse | 23 | (5) |
| 2005–2007 | APOEL | 44 | (34) |
| 2007–2008 | UNAM | 40 | (25) |
| 2008–2010 | Almería | 10 | (1) |
| 2010–2013 | APOEL | 62 | (22) |
| 2013 | Apollon Limassol | 11 | (7) |
| 2013–2014 | Skoda Xanthi | 34 | (16) |
| 2014 | Dalian Aerbin | 11 | (0) |
| 2015 | Ergotelis | 9 | (1) |
| 2015 | Deportivo Cuenca | 13 | (10) |
| 2016 | Aucas | 35 | (10) |
| Total | 351 | (154) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019–2022 | Argentina U20 (assistant) | ||
| 2020–2022 | Argentina U23 (assistant) | ||
| 2022–2023 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | ||
| 2024 | Everton | ||
| 2025 | Godoy Cruz | ||
| 2025– | Pachuca | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Solari was born in Rosario, Santa Fe. After emerging through Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield's youth ranks, he made his professional debut with Estudiantes de La Plata. He also represented in his country Defensa y Justicia, Argentinos Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy.[2]
After one year in Italy with amateurs A.C. Chioggia Sottomarina, Solari joined Lierse S.K. in the Belgian Pro League in summer 2004, scoring five goals in his only season to help his team finish in tenth position.[3] Subsequently, he signed for APOEL FC in Cyprus,[2] extending his contract until 2008 after impressing in his first year – 14 league goals in only 16 starts, winning the Cypriot Cup.[4][5]
Solari finished top scorer in the First Division in 2006–07 (20 goals), as the Nicosia-based club won its third national championship in six years. He was also voted the league's MVP[6] but, at the end of May 2007, agreed on a transfer to Club Universidad Nacional of Mexico,[7] once again winning an individual scoring accolade after netting 14 times in the Apertura.[8]
On 15 June 2008, Solari was transferred to UD Almería, who paid €3.8 million to UNAM.[9] He made his Spanish La Liga debut on 31 August, in a 3–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao where he came on as a late substitute.[10] He finished his first season with just eight games, scoring his only league goal – three overall – for the Andalusians in the 2–1 loss at CD Numancia.[11][12]
On 2 June 2010, the 30-year-old Solari signed for three years with former club APOEL.[13] He immediately made an impact by scoring four goals in six appearances in that season's UEFA Europa League,[14] going on to add 11 in 28 in the domestic league, which again was claimed.[5]
All rounds included, Solari took part in 12 games in his team's 2011–12 UEFA Champions League campaign. On 4 April 2012, he scored from a penalty kick in a 5–2 quarter-final defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (8–2 on aggregate).[15]
Solari was hit by several injuries in 2012–13 and, as a result, appeared in only three matches in all competitions. On 5 January 2013, his contract with APOEL was terminated by mutual consent,[16] and he joined Apollon Limassol FC of the same league later that month.[5]
On 16 July 2013, Solari moved teams and countries again, penning a deal at Super League Greece club Skoda Xanthi FC.[17] One year later, having been crowned the competition's top scorer,[18][19] he signed for Dalian Aerbin F.C. from the Chinese Super League.[20]
Solari returned to Greece and its top flight on 6 February 2015, signing a six-month contract with Ergotelis FC.[21] He subsequently competed in the Ecuadorian Serie A, with C.D. Cuenca and S.D. Aucas.[22]
Coaching career
In late 2018, Solari was named Fernando Batista's assistant at the Argentina under-20 team.[23] The pair worked together at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in Poland[24] and later with the under-23 side at the 2020 Summer Olympics, with the latter competition being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25][26]
Solari was appointed head coach of Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. on 1 December 2022, replacing his compatriot Héctor Bidoglio who stepped down to become technical director of the Malaysia Super League club.[27] He became the first manager in their history to win all four titles in one season, with 39 wins in 43 matches (90.70% points);[28][29] additionally, the side was the first to score 100 goals in a single league.[30]
On 13 March 2024, Solari signed for Everton de Viña del Mar in the Chilean Primera División.[31] On 26 November, after winning 15 of his 33 games in charge and qualifying his team for the Copa Sudamericana, he left by mutual consent.[32]
Solari became head coach of Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba in the Argentine Primera División on 14 February 2025.[33]
Personal life
Solari was nicknamed "Tano", which means "Italian" in Argentinian slang. His father Eduardo and two of his four siblings, the elder Santiago and younger David, were also footballers, with the former playing with individual and team success for Real Madrid and Inter Milan;[34][35][36] his uncle Jorge represented several clubs during his career, mostly Club Atlético River Plate, whilst cousin through marriage Fernando Redondo also appeared for Real Madrid.[37]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 14 March 2026[39]
| Team | Nat. | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Johor Darul Ta'zim |  |
1 December 2022 | 28 December 2023 | 44 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 90.91 | |
| Everton Viña del Mar |  |
13 March 2024 | 26 November 2024 | 32 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 43.75 | |
| Godoy Cruz |  |
14 February 2025 | 8 August 2025 | 22 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 22.73 | |
| Pachuca |  |
15 November 2025 | Present | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 53.85 | |
| Career Total | 111 | 66 | 24 | 21 | 59.46 | ||||
Honours
Player
APOEL
- Cypriot First Division: 2006–07,[6] 2010–11[5]
- Cypriot Cup: 2005–06[5]
- Cypriot Super Cup: 2011
Apollon Limassol
Individual
- Cypriot First Division MVP: 2006–07[6]
- Cypriot First Division top scorer: 2006–07[6]
- Super League Greece top scorer: 2013–14[19]
Manager
Johor Darul Ta'zim