Felipe Vega-Arango
Spanish football coach
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Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso is a Spanish football coach who first managed the Solomon Islands national football team in 2017 and was re-appointed as coach in June 2021.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Gijón, Spain[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Solomon Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Solomon Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Papua New Guinea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Solomon Islands
Assuming the post of technical director for the Solomon Islands Football Federation in March 2017[2] after sending his CV to various football associations around the world,[3] Vega-Arango coevally held the position of coach for the country's national selection also, winning his first game in charge with a 3–2 victory over Papua New Guinea in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying phases.[4] This was followed by another 2–1 triumph over the same opposition.[5]
Before their Oceania Football Confederation decider match versus New Zealand[6] for entry into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he stated that his charges were ready for the round,[7] only to lose to the All Whites 6–1.[8] Despite saying that the chances of a win by a five-goal margin in the next leg were low,[8] Vega-Arango maintained that his ambition was to win the second round.[9] In the end, he led them to a 2–2 draw.
Arango was re-appointed as Head Coach of the Solomon Islands national football team in June 2021.[10]
Personal life
Vega-Arango is the son of Manuel Vega-Arango, the former president of Spanish team Sporting de Gijón.[3]
Honours
Manager
Solomon Islands
- Pacific Games: Silver Medalist, 2023[11][12]
- Pacific Mini Games: Bronze Medalist, 2017[13][14]
- MSG Prime Minister's Cup: 2023[15][16]
