Paco Herrera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Herrera as manager of Celta in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Herrera Lorenzo | ||
| Date of birth | 2 December 1953 | ||
| Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1965–1972 | Damm | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1974 | Sabadell | 64 | (5) |
| 1974–1977 | Sporting Gijón | 44 | (2) |
| 1977–1979 | Levante | ||
| 1979–1986 | Badajoz | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Badajoz | ||
| 1995 | Badajoz | ||
| 1998 | Numancia | ||
| 1998–1999 | Mérida | ||
| 2000 | Numancia | ||
| 2001–2002 | Albacete | ||
| 2002–2003 | Poli Ejido | ||
| 2003 | Recreativo | ||
| 2004–2006 | Liverpool (assistant) | ||
| 2009 | Castellón | ||
| 2010 | Villarreal B | ||
| 2010–2013 | Celta | ||
| 2013–2014 | Zaragoza | ||
| 2014–2015 | Las Palmas | ||
| 2016–2017 | Valladolid | ||
| 2017 | Sporting Gijón | ||
| 2018 | Aris | ||
| 2018–2019 | Las Palmas | ||
| 2019–2020 | Birmingham City (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Francisco "Paco" Herrera Lorenzo (born 2 December 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and is a manager.
His managerial career spanning over a quarter of a century, was mostly spent in Segunda División, where he managed 13 clubs and achieved promotion to La Liga with Celta and Las Palmas.
Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Herrera began his professional career with Sabadell in his native region, appearing in two Segunda División seasons with the team. In 1974, the 20-year-old signed with Sporting Gijón in La Liga, suffering relegation in his second year.
In 1986, after a two-season spell with Levante, Herrera retired from football with Badajoz, at the age of 32, having played mainly for the Extremadurans in Segunda División B, the new third level created in 1977.
Coaching career
Herrera was connected to his last club, Badajoz, for several years as a manager, first coaching its youth sides and later acting as assistant. He would manage the first team in 24 games in two separate second division campaigns (18 in 1992–93 and six in 1994–95).
During three seasons, Herrera then worked in the second level, with Numancia and Mérida, the only complete one being 1998–99. He was sacked by the latter in late November 1999, following a 1–3 loss at former club Levante; the team eventually ranked sixth, being however demoted due to financial irregularities.
After two seasons in division two, with Albacete and Poli Ejido (finishing in tenth and 13th position respectively), Herrera was appointed at Recreativo in the same tier, being fired on 9 November 2003 after a 0–2 home loss against Andalusia neighbours Córdoba – the team had collected seven draws in 11 matches (plus two wins and as many losses). In the summer of 2004, he joined countryman Rafael Benítez's coaching staff in Liverpool, working as both assistant manager and chief scout for two years.[1]
Herrera left England in June 2006 and returned to his country, serving as director of football at Espanyol for three seasons.[2] He left the club in February 2009 to manage Castellón, replacing Atlético Madrid-bound Abel Resino for the final 21 games of the campaign and leading the Valencians to the seventh place in the second division.
On 4 February 2010, Herrera replaced Juan Carlos Garrido at the helm of Villarreal's reserves, also in the second division, as Garrido had been promoted to the main squad following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde. In the 2010–11 season, he continued working in level two with Celta, leading them to the promotion play-offs where they lost in the semi-finals against Granada, on penalties.
Herrera was also in charge as the Galicians returned to the top flight at the end of the 2011–12 season, as runners-up. He was relieved of his duties on 18 February 2013 after a 1–3 away loss against Getafe, however, with the club ranking third from bottom[3] but eventually saved.
Herrera was appointed at Las Palmas in the second division, on 3 July 2014.[4] He achieved promotion in his first season, with the team returning to the top tier after 13 years.
On 19 October 2015, after a 0–4 defeat at Getafe that left the Canarians ranking second from the bottom, Herrera was sacked and replaced by Quique Setién.[5] On 7 June of the following year, he was named Real Valladolid manager.[6]
On 15 June 2017, Herrera was hired as Sporting Gijón coach after agreeing to a two-year contract.[7][8] He was sacked on 12 December, after a streak of six matches without wins in the second level.[9]
Herrera returned to active on 31 May 2018, being appointed at Aris in the Super League Greece.[10] On 5 November, after four consecutive league defeats, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[11]
On 16 November 2018, Herrera returned to Las Palmas after three years, replacing sacked Manolo Jiménez.[12] On 4 March 2019, he was himself dismissed after only winning three of 14 league games.[13]
On 6 July 2019, Herrera joined the coaching staff at Birmingham City, becoming assistant head coach to Pep Clotet.[14]
