Sergio Rodríguez (footballer, born 1978)
Spanish footballer and manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sergio Rodríguez Martínez (born 26 July 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder, currently a manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sergio Rodríguez Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | 26 July 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Logroño, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| La Unión | |||
| Cantabria | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Peña RM Logroño | |||
| Loyola | |||
| 1999–2000 | CD Logroñés B | ||
| 2000–2001 | Balaguer | ||
| 2001–2006 | Lleida | 163 | (20) |
| 2006–2007 | Cádiz | 12 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Lleida (loan) | 17 | (2) |
| 2007–2008 | Alavés | 38 | (4) |
| 2008–2010 | Real Sociedad | 39 | (3) |
| 2010–2013 | UD Logroñés | 63 | (9) |
| Total | 332 | (38) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013–2017 | UD Logroñés (youth) | ||
| 2016 | UD Logroñés (caretaker) | ||
| 2017 | UD Logroñés (caretaker) | ||
| 2017–2021 | UD Logroñés | ||
| 2023 | UD Logroñés | ||
| 2024–2025 | UD Logroñés | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In a 14-year senior career, he amassed Segunda División totals of 159 matches and 16 goals over six seasons, representing in the competition Lleida, Cádiz, Alavés and Real Sociedad.
Rodríguez started working as a coach in 2017, spending four full seasons at the helm of UD Logroñés as well as parts of three others.
Playing career
Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Rodríguez began playing football with SRC La Unión, but was unable to appear for the club due to his age.[1] Following a period at SR Cantabria, he started his senior career with Peña Real Madrid de Logroño, and went on to represent SD Loyola and CD Logroñés B.[2]
In 2001, after one year at Tercera División side CF Balaguer, Rodríguez joined UE Lleida where he made his professional debut, representing the Catalans in both the Segunda División and Segunda División B.[3] In the 2006–07 season he signed with Cádiz CF in the former level but, unsettled, left a few months later and moved back to Lleida on loan, in the third tier.[4]
Rodríguez continued in division two the following years, with Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad.[5] Already a fringe player in his second campaign with the latter, he did appear in 15 games as they returned to La Liga after a three-year absence, being subsequently released.[6][7]
Coaching career
After retiring at the age of 35, Rodríguez starting working as a coach with his last club, being in charge of the youth sides at UD Logroñés.[8][7] On 17 November 2016, after Carlos Pouso was fired from the first team in the third division, he was appointed as caretaker.[9] He once again came to the rescue of the latter on 20 March 2017, signing until the end of the season following the dismissal of Rafael Berges.[10]
On 8 May 2017, Rodríguez agreed to a two-year permanent deal at Logroñés.[11] He led them to a first-ever promotion to the second division in 2020, and renewed his contract for a further season on 24 July.[12]
Rodríguez left the Estadio Las Gaunas on 31 May 2021, after the club's immediate relegation.[13] He was one of three managers during the 2022–23 campaign, not being able to avoid a drop from Primera Federación.[14][15]
On 24 November 2024, Rodríguez went again from Logroñés' front office to their bench, taking over from the dismissed Miguel Flaño.[16] The following 5 March, he stepped down again.[17]
Managerial statistics
- As of 2 March 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| UD Logroñés (caretaker) | 17 November 2016 | 28 November 2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 50.00 | [18] |
| UD Logroñés (caretaker) | 20 March 2017 | 8 May 2017 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | +12 | 85.71 | [19] |
| UD Logroñés | 8 May 2017 | 31 May 2021 | 162 | 71 | 47 | 44 | 200 | 148 | +52 | 43.83 | [20] |
| UD Logroñés | 28 February 2023 | 6 July 2023 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 21.43 | [21] |
| UD Logroñés | 24 November 2024 | 5 March 2025 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 28.57 | [22] |
| Total | 199 | 85 | 61 | 53 | 241 | 166 | +75 | 42.71 | — | ||
Honours
Player
Lleida
Real Sociedad