Álvaro Cervera Explained

Álvaro Cervera
Fullname:Álvaro Cervera Díaz[1]
Birth Date:20 September 1965
Birth Place:Santa Isabel, Guinea
Height:1.75 m
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:Alegría
Youthclubs2:Tenerife
Youthclubs3:Perines
Years1:1983–1985
Clubs1:Rayo Cantabria
Caps1:35
Goals1:11
Years2:1984–1987
Clubs2:Racing Santander
Caps2:33
Goals2:5
Years3:1987–1992
Clubs3:Mallorca
Caps3:139
Goals3:10
Years4:1992–1995
Clubs4:Valencia
Caps4:82
Goals4:5
Years5:1995–1997
Clubs5:Racing Santander
Caps5:42
Goals5:3
Years6:1997–1998
Clubs6:Hércules
Caps6:2
Goals6:0
Years7:1998–1999
Clubs7:Águilas
Caps7:11
Goals7:1
Years8:1999
Clubs8:Almería
Caps8:19
Goals8:5
Years9:1999–2000
Clubs9:San Fernando
Caps9:25
Goals9:3
Years10:2000–2001
Clubs10:Ontinyent
Totalcaps:388
Totalgoals:47
Nationalyears1:1987
Nationalteam1:Spain U21
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:1991–1992
Nationalteam2:Spain
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:2001–2002
Managerclubs1:Catarroja (assistant)
Manageryears2:2002–2003
Manageryears3:2003–2004
Managerclubs3:Villarreal (youth)
Manageryears4:2004–2005
Manageryears5:2005
Manageryears6:2006
Manageryears7:2006–2007
Manageryears8:2008–2009
Managerclubs8:Cultural Leonesa
Manageryears9:2009–2010
Managerclubs9:Jaén
Manageryears10:2010–2011
Managerclubs10:Real Unión
Manageryears11:2011–2012
Managerclubs11:Recreativo
Manageryears12:2012
Managerclubs12:Racing Santander
Manageryears13:2012–2015
Managerclubs13:Tenerife
Manageryears14:2016–2022
Managerclubs14:Cádiz
Manageryears15:2022–2023
Managerclubs15:Oviedo

Álvaro Cervera Díaz (born 20 September 1965) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a winger.

As a player he made 261 matches in La Liga over 12 seasons, scoring 17 goals, playing for Racing de Santander (in two spells), Mallorca and Valencia in the competition.

Cervera became a manager in 2002, going on to work with a number of clubs.

Playing career

Club

Born in Santa Isabel, Spanish Guinea when both his parents worked in that country,[2] Cervera was raised in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and played youth football for four clubs, finishing his development at Racing de Santander. He made his La Liga debut on 9 September 1984 by playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away loss against Real Valladolid,[3] but only totalled seven games in his first two senior seasons, featuring much more regularly in 1986–87 but suffering relegation.[4]

In the summer of 1987, Álvaro – known by his first name during his playing days – signed for RCD Mallorca, remaining five years with them and being relegated twice from the top flight. In the 1988–89 campaign he scored a career-best six goals in 35 matches, helping the Balearic Islands team to promote from Segunda División.[5] [4]

Álvaro moved to Valencia CF in June 1992, following Mallorca's relegation. He made 32 appearances and netted three times in his first year (notably once in a 4–1 away victory over Athletic Bilbao),[6] but was more often than not a reserve from there onwards,[5] for that and his following club Racing, which he left to play with Hércules CF in the second division.[7]

Álvaro retired in 2001 at the age of nearly 36, following a spell in the lower leagues.[4]

International

Álvaro earned four caps for Spain, in slightly more than one year. He made his debut on 4 September 1991, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute for Andoni Goikoetxea in a 2–1 friendly win against Uruguay in Oviedo.[8]

Coaching career

Cervera took up coaching in 2001, working with amateurs Catarroja CF in several capacities.[9] From 2004 to 2011 he managed almost exclusively in the Segunda División B, and his first job at the professional level arrived in 2011–12 when he was appointed at Recreativo de Huelva in division two.[10] However, in March 2012, he arranged to have his contract terminated when he received an offer from former side Racing Santander in the top tier,[11] but he only collected three draws in his 13 games in charge to become the competition's worst ever debutant,[12] and was not renewed.[13]

On 3 July 2012, Cervera signed with Tenerife where he had already played youth football more than 30 years ago.[14] Shortly before achieving promotion to the second division in his debut season, he renewed his link until 2015,[15] [16] being however relieved of his duties on 2 February 2015[17] even though he had a contract running until 2018.[18]

On 18 April 2016, Cervera replaced Claudio Barragán at the helm of Cádiz CF,[19] and managed to achieve promotion to the second tier at the end of the campaign.[20] After coming fifth the following season, the team qualified for the play-offs for top-flight promotion, losing on regulations after a 1–1 semi-final draw with CD Tenerife in June 2017;[21] promotion was finally gained in July 2020, ending a 14-year exile.[22]

A quote from Cervera, "La lucha no se negocia" ("The fight is non-negotiable" in Spanish), was adopted by Cádiz as a club catchphrase shortly after his arrival.[23] On 11 January 2022, as the club was in the relegation zone, he was sacked.[24]

On 18 October 2022, Cervera replaced Bolo at Real Oviedo.[25] He was dismissed on 21 September of the following year, after the start of the new season saw the side placed second-bottom.[26] [27]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
1 August 20021 July 2003 [28]
Catarroja30 June 200425 April 2005[29]
Castellón25 April 200530 June 2005[30]
Almansa9 January 200630 June 2006[31]
Alicante1 July 200616 April 2007[32]
Cultural Leonesa1 July 200830 June 2009[33]
Jaén31 August 200930 June 2010[34]
Real Unión13 July 20102 January 2011[35]
Recreativo28 June 20119 March 2012[36]
Racing Santander9 March 201214 May 2012[37]
Tenerife3 July 20122 February 2015[38]
Cádiz18 April 201611 January 2022[39]
Oviedo18 October 202221 September 2023[40]
Total

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Álvaro Cervera. Worldfootball. 5 February 2021.
  2. Web site: De espaldas a Guinea. Turning one's back on Guinea. Cuadernos de Fútbol. José Ignacio. Corcuera. Spanish. 1 December 2013. 7 August 2019.
  3. News: 1–0: Valladolid y Racing, más voluntad que acierto. 1–0: Valladolid and Racing, more will than success. Mundo Deportivo. Javier. González. Spanish. 10 September 1984. 28 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Cervera, de brillante extremo a codiciado entrenador. Cervera, from brilliant winger to coveted coach. La Voz Digital. Antonio. Valimaña. Spanish. 24 January 2017. 6 September 2018.
  5. Web site: Jugadores de ayer y de hoy: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. Players from yesterday and today: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. RCDM. Tolo. Leal. Spanish. 15 September 2011. 6 September 2018.
  6. News: Varapalo del Valencia al Athletic en San Mamés. Valencia thrashed Athletic in San Mamés. Mundo Deportivo. Eduardo. Castañeda. Spanish. 21 December 1992. 28 November 2014.
  7. News: Hércules CF. Mundo Deportivo. Spanish. 29 August 1997. 11 January 2022.
  8. News: Tiempo de llorar, tiempo de soñar. A time to cry, a time to dream. Mundo Deportivo. Fabián. Ortiz. Spanish. 5 September 1991. 27 November 2014.
  9. News: El exinternacional Álvaro Cervera puede ser el ´nuevo Oltra´ de Fernando. Former international Álvaro Cervera may be Fernando's 'new Oltra'. El Periódico Mediterráneo. José Luis. Lizarraga. Spanish. 26 April 2005. 6 September 2018.
  10. News: Álvaro Cervera será el entrenador del Recre. Álvaro Cervera to be Recre manager. Marca. Spanish. 28 June 2011. 27 November 2014.
  11. Web site: Álvaro Cervera, nuevo entrenador del Racing. Álvaro Cervera, new Racing manager. Racing Santander. Spanish. 9 March 2012. 27 November 2014.
  12. News: Un año para olvidar. A year to forget. El Diario Montañés. Rafa. Torre Poo. Spanish. 30 December 2012. 27 November 2014.
  13. Web site: ¿Qué ha conseguido Álvaro Cervera en los banquillos?. What has Álvaro Cervera achieved on the benches?. La Voz Digital. Alfonso. Carbonell. Spanish. 18 April 2016. 6 September 2018.
  14. Web site: Álvaro Cervera nuevo entrenador del CD Tenerife. Álvaro Cervera new CD Tenerife manager. CD Tenerife. Spanish. 3 July 2012. 27 November 2014.
  15. News: Álvaro Cervera renueva por dos años. Álvaro Cervera renews for two years. El Comercio. Spanish. 5 March 2013. 27 November 2014.
  16. News: El Tenerife vuelve a ser equipo de Segunda División A. Tenerife are again a Segunda División A team. Diario AS. Marc. Bernad Suelves. Spanish. 2 June 2013. 27 November 2014.
  17. News: Álvaro Cervera, destituido como técnico del Tenerife. Álvaro Cervera, dismissed as Tenerife manager. Marca. Jorge. Castañeda. Spanish. 2 February 2015. 3 February 2015.
  18. News: Álvaro Cervera renueva hasta 2018 y asume más funciones. Álvaro Cervera renews until 2018 with additional powers. Marca. Spanish. 11 June 2014. 24 February 2015.
  19. Web site: Álvaro Cervera, nuevo entrenador del Cádiz. Álvaro Cervera, new manager of Cádiz. Cádiz CF. Spanish. 18 April 2016. 15 August 2018.
  20. News: Cervera seguirá al frente del 'submarino amarillo'. Cervera to remain in charge of the 'yellow submarine'. Marca. Daniel. Martínez. Spanish. 1 July 2016. 6 September 2018.
  21. Web site: Tenerife progress to playoff final after extra-time triumph. La Liga. 18 June 2017. 24 October 2019.
  22. Web site: Cadiz, the club and city where the rules are different, finally return to La Liga. The Athletic. Dermot. Corrigan. 13 July 2020. 18 July 2020.
  23. Web site: Cadiz: The conquerors of Real Madrid and Barcelona who do things differently. BBC Sport. Guillem. Balagué. 23 December 2020. 27 December 2020.
  24. Web site: Álvaro Cervera deja de ser entrenador del Cádiz. Álvaro Cervera is no longer manager of Cádiz. Cádiz CF. Spanish. 11 January 2022. 11 January 2022.
  25. Web site: Álvaro Cervera named the new Real Oviedo head coach. Real Oviedo. 18 October 2022. 19 October 2022.
  26. News: El futuro de Cervera pende de un hilo. Cervera's future hangs by a thread. Marca. Chisco. García. Spanish. 19 September 2023. 22 September 2023.
  27. Web site: Comunicado oficial: Álvaro Cervera. Official announcement: Álvaro Cervera. Real Oviedo. Spanish. 21 September 2023. 21 September 2023.
  28. Web site: Regional Preferente Valenciana (Grupo 3) 2002–03. Regional Preferente Valenciana (Group 3) 2002–03. Futbolme. Spanish. 28 July 2016.
  29. Web site: Tercera División (Grupo 6) 2004–05. Tercera División (Group 6) 2004–05. Futbolme. Spanish. 28 July 2016.
  30. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  31. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  32. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  33. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  34. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  35. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  36. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  37. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  38. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
  39. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 28 July 2016.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 26 October 2016.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 22 August 2017.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 20 November 2018.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 20 August 2019.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 10 December 2021.
    Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 10 December 2021.
  40. Web site: Álvaro: Álvaro Cervera Díaz. BDFutbol. 24 October 2022.