Esteban Vigo
Spanish football player and manager (born 1955)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Esteban Vigo Benítez (born 17 January 1955) is a Spanish former professional football midfielder and manager.
|
Vigo in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Esteban Vigo Benítez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 17 January 1955[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Vélez-Málaga, Spain[1] | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Santa María | |||
| 1970–1972 | Veleño | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1974 | Atlético Malagueño | ||
| 1974–1977 | Málaga | 53 | (7) |
| 1974–1975 | → Marbella (loan) | ||
| 1977–1987 | Barcelona | 166 | (18) |
| 1987–1991 | Málaga | 109 | (17) |
| Total | 328 | (42) | |
| International career | |||
| 1979–1980 | Spain U23 | 6 | (1) |
| 1976 | Spain amateur | 3 | (0) |
| 1981 | Spain B | 3 | (0) |
| 1981 | Spain | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1995–1996 | Almería | ||
| 2001–2003 | Barcelona C | ||
| 2003–2004 | Xerez | ||
| 2004 | Córdoba | ||
| 2005 | Progresul București (assistant) | ||
| 2005 | Universitatea Craiova (assistant) | ||
| 2005–2006 | Dinamo București | ||
| 2007 | Lleida | ||
| 2008–2009 | Xerez | ||
| 2009–2011 | Hércules | ||
| 2012 | Almería | ||
| 2012–2013 | Xerez | ||
| 2021 | Xerez | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He spent the vast majority of his professional career with Málaga and Barcelona, amassing La Liga totals of 240 games and 24 goals over 13 seasons.
Vigo became a manager in 1995, going on to coach several clubs.
Playing career
Known as Esteban during his playing days, he was born in Vélez-Málaga, and had his first professional spell with local club Málaga, achieving promotion to La Liga in 1976. He subsequently attracted attention from giants Barcelona, who signed him in December 1976 for 25 million pesetas;[2][3] he proceeded to be regularly used over the next decade, although he was never an undisputed starter (a maximum of 23 matches in 1980–81). He also scored the winner in a 3–1 Copa del Rey win against Sporting Gijón in that same season.[4]
Esteban returned to his first club in 1987,[5] retiring four years later at the age of 36. He earned three caps for Spain over a two-month span in 1981 as the nation prepared for the FIFA World Cup to be held on home soil,[6] but did not make the final cut. He also represented the country at the 1976 Summer Olympics.[7]
Coaching career
Taking up coaching afterwards, Vigo began in his native Andalusia with Almería,[8][9] and continued to work mainly in the region,[10][11] also having an abroad spell in Romania.[12][13] In 2009, he led Xerez to their first top-tier promotion;[14] in July 2009, he switched to another side in the Segunda División, moving to Hércules[15] and achieving the same as runner-up, with the Alicante club returning to the top flight after 13 years.[16]
Vigo was sacked by Hércules on 21 March 2011, following a 0–4 home loss against Osasuna; it was the team's fourth consecutive defeat of the season, winning just one point out of 15 possible.[17] He was named as the new manager Almería on 4 April of the following year, replacing Lucas Alcaraz.[18]
In July 2012, Vigo returned to Xerez on a two-year deal with the option of two more.[19] He and his three assistants were dismissed the following February, with the team last-placed and seven points from safety (and eventually relegated in that position).[20]
On 17 February 2021, Vigo returned for a fourth spell as manager of Xerez.[21] He led the club to the promotion play-offs from Tercera División but lost to Ceuta,[22] leaving in the aftermath.[23]
Outside football
Vigo released his autobiography, titled Ganador (winner), on 13 September 2010.[24]
Honours
Player
Barcelona
- La Liga: 1984–85
- Copa del Rey: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83
- Supercopa de España: 1983
- Copa de la Liga: 1983, 1986
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1978–79, 1981–82
Málaga
Manager
Xerez