Diego Flores (footballer) explained

Diego Flores
Fullname:Rodolfo Diego Flores[1]
Birth Date:11 December 1980
Birth Place:Córdoba, Argentina[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:San Martín de Tucumán (manager)
Years2:2000–2006
Years4:2009
Years5:2013
Managerclubs1:General Paz Juniors (youth)
Managerclubs2:Taborín (youth)
Manageryears3:2012
Managerclubs3:Sportivo Belgrano Almafuerte
Manageryears4:2013
Managerclubs4:Kingswood Castle (youth)
Manageryears5:2014–2015
Managerclubs5:Marseille (assistant)
Manageryears6:2016
Managerclubs6:Lazio (assistant)
Manageryears7:2017
Managerclubs7:Lille (assistant)
Manageryears8:2018–2021
Managerclubs8:Leeds United (assistant)
Manageryears9:2021–2022
Managerclubs9:Godoy Cruz
Manageryears10:2023
Managerclubs10:Godoy Cruz
Manageryears11:2024–
Managerclubs11:San Martín de Tucumán

Rodolfo Diego Flores (born 11 December 1980) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played mainly as a midfielder. He is the current manager of San Martín de Tucumán.

Career

Born in Córdoba, Flores only played amateur football before deciding he would become a coach at the age of 24.[2] He began his managerial career with General Paz Juniors, later working at Taborín's youth categories and Sportivo Belgrano de Almafuerte[1] [3] before moving to Ireland in 2013 to study for UEFA qualifications.[4]

While in Ireland, Flores worked as a barista in a coffeehouse and played for Dublin-based side Kingswood Castle; at the club, he also helped managing the youth teams.[4] After leaving Ireland at the end of 2013, he moved to Southampton where he met Mauricio Pochettino, and later Marcelo Bielsa;[4] after a chat with Diego Reyes, a member of Bielsa's staff,[5] he was invited by Bielsa to join his coaching staff at Olympique de Marseille.[6]

Flores worked under Bielsa for a total of seven years, at Lazio, Lille OSC and Leeds United.[6] On 31 August 2021, he was appointed manager of Argentine Primera División side Godoy Cruz.[7]

Flores' first professional match occurred on 5 September 2021, a 4–0 home routing of Gimnasia La Plata.[8] The following April, he left the club on a mutual agreement.[9]

On 3 November 2022, Flores returned to Godoy Cruz, after being appointed manager for the upcoming season,[10] but again left the club the following 10 April, after being dismissed.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: De dirigir Belgrano a ascender con Bielsa. From managing Belgrano to promoting with Bielsa. LigaRioTres.com. es. 18 July 2020. 4 September 2021.
  2. Web site: Flores, el nuevo DT de Godoy Cruz: "La vida me sorprendió hasta llegar a Marcelo Bielsa". Flores, the new manager of Godoy Cruz: "Life surprised me until reaching Marcelo Bielsa". Olé. es. 31 August 2014. 4 September 2021.
  3. Web site: De dirigir en el interior de Córdoba a ser DT de Godoy Cruz: la increíble historia de Diego Flores. From managing in the countryside of Córdoba to becoming the manager of Godoy Cruz: the incredible history of Diego Flores. La Voz del Interior. es. 31 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  4. Web site: Explained: Who are the men behind Bielsa?. live . subscription . https://archive.today/20210904083722/https://theathletic.co.uk/1224157/2019/09/24/who-are-the-men-behind-bielsa/. The Athletic. 4 September 2021. 24 September 2019. 4 September 2021.
  5. Web site: Quién es Diego Flores, el trotamundos y traductor de Bielsa que se convirtió en DT de Godoy Cruz. Who is Diego Torres, the globetrotter and translator of Bielsa who became the manager of Godoy Cruz. Clarín. es. 31 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  6. Web site: 'Taught me to be a better person' - Godoy Cruz boss Diego Flores on working for Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 September 2021. 4 September 2021.
  7. Web site: Diego Flores, de trabajar con Bielsa a ser entrenador en Godoy Cruz. Diego Flores, from working with Bielsa to becoming a manager at Godoy Cruz. TyC Sports. es. 31 August 2021. 4 September 2021.
  8. Web site: La presentación de Diego Flores, en Godoy Cruz, en las cámaras de Paso a Paso. The presentation of Diego Flores, at Godoy Cruz, in the cameras of Paso a Paso. TyC Sports. es. 6 September 2021. 8 September 2021.
  9. Web site: Diego Flores dejó de ser el director técnico de Godoy Cruz. Diego Flores left as manager of Godoy Cruz . 10 April 2022 . TyC Sports . Spanish.
  10. Web site: Diego Flores acordó su vuelta a Godoy Cruz y será el nuevo entrenador . Diego Flores agreed his return to Godoy Cruz and will be the next manager . 3 November 2022 . . Spanish.
  11. Web site: Diego Flores dejó nuevamente Godoy Cruz, un año y un día después del fin de su primer ciclo. Diego Flores left Godoy Cruz again, one year and a day after the end of his first cycle. TyC Sports. es. 10 April 2023. 11 April 2023.