Esteban Vigo Explained

Esteban Vigo
Fullname:	Esteban Vigo Benítez
Birth Date:	17 January 1955
Birth Place:	Vélez-Málaga, Spain
Height:	1.71 m
Position:	Midfielder
Youthclubs1:	Santa María
Youthyears2:	1970–1972
Youthclubs2:	Veleño
Years1:	1972–1974
Years2:	1974–1977
Caps2:	53
Goals2:	7
Years3:	1974–1975
Clubs3:	→ Marbella (loan)
Years4:	1977–1987
Caps4:	166
Goals4:	18
Years5:	1987–1991
Caps5:	109
Goals5:	17
Totalcaps:	328
Totalgoals:	42
Nationalyears1:	1979–1980
Nationalcaps1:	6
Nationalgoals1:	1
Nationalyears2:	1976
Nationalcaps2:	3
Nationalgoals2:	0
Nationalyears3:	1981
Nationalcaps3:	3
Nationalgoals3:	0
Nationalyears4:	1981
Nationalcaps4:	3
Nationalgoals4:	0
Manageryears1:	1995–1996
Managerclubs1:	Almería
Manageryears2:	2001–2003
Managerclubs2:	Barcelona C
Manageryears3:	2003–2004
Managerclubs3:	Xerez
Manageryears4:	2004
Managerclubs4:	Córdoba
Manageryears5:	2005
Managerclubs5:	Progresul București (assistant)
Manageryears6:	2005
Managerclubs6:	Universitatea Craiova (assistant)
Manageryears7:	2005–2006
Managerclubs7:	Dinamo București
Manageryears8:	2007
Managerclubs8:	Lleida
Manageryears9:	2008–2009
Managerclubs9:	Xerez
Manageryears10:	2009–2011
Managerclubs10:	Hércules
Manageryears11:	2012
Managerclubs11:	Almería
Manageryears12:	2012–2013
Managerclubs12:	Xerez
Manageryears13:	2021
Managerclubs13:	Xerez

Esteban Vigo Benítez (born 17 January 1955) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a midfielder, currently a manager.

He played the vast majority of his professional career with Málaga and Barcelona, amassing La Liga totals of 240 games and 24 goals over 13 seasons.

Vigo became a manager in 1995, going on to coach several clubs.

Playing career

Known as Esteban during his playing days, he was born in Vélez-Málaga, and had his first professional spell with local CD Málaga, achieving La Liga promotion in 1976. He subsequently attracted attention from country giants FC Barcelona who signed him in December 1976 for 25 million pesetas,^[1] ^[2] and he proceeded to be regularly used over one decade although never an undisputed starter (a maximum of 23 matches in 1980–81). He also scored the winner in a 3–1 Copa del Rey defeat of Sporting de Gijón, in that same season.^[3]

Esteban returned to his first club in 1987,^[4] retiring four years later at the age of 36. He earned three caps for Spain over a two-month span in 1981 as the nation prepared for its FIFA World Cup,^[5] but did not make the final cut. He also represented the country at the 1976 Summer Olympics.^[6]

Coaching career

Taking up coaching afterwards, Vigo began in his native Andalusia with UD Almería,^[7] ^[8] and continued to work mainly in the region,^[9] ^[10] also having an abroad spell in Romania.^[11] ^[12] In 2009 he led Xerez CD to their first top-tier promotion^[13] but, in July 2009, switched to another side in Segunda División, moving to Hércules CF^[14] and achieving the same as runner-up, with the Alicante club returning to the top flight after 13 years.^[15]

Vigo was sacked by Hércules on 21 March 2011, following a 0–4 home loss against CA Osasuna; it was the team's fourth consecutive defeat of the season, winning just one point out of 15 possible.^[16] He was named the new Almería manager on 4 April of the following year, replacing Lucas Alcaraz.^[17]

In July 2012, Vigo returned to Xerez on a two-year deal with the option of two more.^[18] He and his three assistants were dismissed the following February, with the team last-placed and seven points from safety (and eventually relegated in that position).^[19]

On 17 February 2021, Vigo returned for a fourth spell as manager of Xerez.^[20] He led the club to the promotion play-offs from Tercera División, but lost to AD Ceuta FC,^[21] leaving in the aftermath.^[22]