 Vigo in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Esteban Vigo Benítez[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1955-01-17)17 January 1955 (age 70)[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 | |||
Esteban Vigo Benítez (born 17 January 1955) is a Spanish formerfootballer who played as amidfielder, currently amanager.
He played the vast majority of his professional career withMálaga andBarcelona, amassingLa Liga totals of 240 games and 24 goals over 13 seasons.
Vigo became a manager in 1995, going on to coach several clubs.
Known asEsteban during his playing days, he was born inVélez-Málaga, and had his first professional spell with localCD Málaga, achievingLa Liga promotion in1976. He subsequently attracted attention from country giantsFC Barcelona who signed him in December 1976 for 25 millionpesetas,[2][3] and he proceeded to be regularly used over one decade although never an undisputed starter (a maximum of 23 matches in1980–81). He also scored the winner in a 3–1Copa del Rey defeat ofSporting de Gijón, inthat same season.[4]
Esteban returned to his first club in 1987,[5] retiring four years later at the age of 36. He earned threecaps forSpain over a two-month span in 1981 as the nation prepared foritsFIFA World Cup,[6] but did not make the final cut. He also represented the country at the1976 Summer Olympics.[7]
Taking up coaching afterwards, Vigo began in his nativeAndalusia withUD Almería,[8][9] and continued to work mainly in the region,[10][11] also having an abroad spell inRomania.[12][13] In2009 he ledXerez CD to their first top-tier promotion[14] but, in July 2009, switched to another side inSegunda División, moving toHércules CF[15] andachieving the same as runner-up, with theAlicante 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 againstCA Osasuna; it was the team's fourth consecutive defeat ofthe season, winning just one point out of 15 possible.[17] He was named the new Almería manager on 4 April of the following year, replacingLucas 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 eventuallyrelegated in that position).[20]
On 17 February 2021, Vigo returned for a fourth spell as manager of Xerez.[21] He led the club to thepromotion play-offs fromTercera División, but lost toAD Ceuta FC,[22] leaving in the aftermath.[23]
Vigo released his autobiography, titledGanador (winner), on 13 September 2010.[24]
Barcelona
Málaga
Xerez
