Raúl Llona Explained

Raúl Llona
Fullname:Raúl Sáenz del Rincón
Birth Date:3 August 1976
Birth Place:Logroño, Spain
Height:1.74m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Cultural Leonesa (manager)
Youthclubs1:Berceo
Years1:1993–1995
Years2:1995–1997
Caps2:68
Goals2:1
Years3:1997
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:1997–1998
Caps4:36
Goals4:5
Years5:1998–1999
Caps5:30
Goals5:0
Years6:1999–2000
Caps6:26
Goals6:2
Years7:2000–2001
Years8:2001–2003
Caps8:46
Goals8:3
Years9:2003–2004
Caps9:15
Goals9:0
Years10:2004–2007
Manageryears1:2007–2009
Managerclubs1:Balsamaiso (youth)
Manageryears2:2009–2013
Managerclubs2:Berceo (youth)
Manageryears3:2013–2014
Managerclubs3:UD Logroñés
Manageryears4:2014–2016
Managerclubs4:SD Logroñés
Manageryears5:2016–2017
Managerclubs5:Anguiano
Manageryears6:2017–2018
Managerclubs6:Alavés (youth)
Manageryears7:2018–2021
Manageryears8:2021
Manageryears9:2021–2023
Manageryears10:2023–
Managerclubs10:Cultural Leonesa

Raúl Sáenz del Rincón (born 3 August 1976), known as Raúl Llona or just Llona, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and the current manager of Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.

Playing career

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Llona started his career with CD Berceo before moving to CD Logroñés in 1995. On 22 June 1997, after two seasons as a starter with the reserves, he made his professional debut by playing the last 13 minutes of a 1–2 La Liga away loss against Real Sociedad.[1]

Llona would spend the remainder of his career mainly in Segunda División B, representing CD Manchego, CD Mensajero, Talavera CF, Real Unión and CD Calahorra in that category. He also enjoyed two further spells with his first club Logroñés, with the side mainly in Tercera División, and retired with the side in 2007 at the age of 31.

Managerial career

Immediately after retiring Llona took up coaching, managing Peña Balsamaiso CF's youth setup.[2] In 2009, he returned to his first club Berceo, taking over the Juvenil squad while also working as a director of football.[3] [4]

In March 2013, Llona was appointed manager of UD Logroñés in the third division.[5] On 6 June 2014, he took over neighbouring SD Logroñés, recently relegated to the fourth division.[6]

On 23 June 2016, Llona was named in charge of fellow fourth tier club CD Anguiano.[7] On 13 July of the following year, he joined Deportivo Alavés as manager of the Cadete B squad.[8]

Llona was named Club San Ignacio manager in 2018, subsequently helping in their promotion to the fourth level. On 19 May 2020, he renewed as manager of San Ignacio until June 2022.[9]

On 9 February 2021, Llona was appointed manager of Alavés' B-team,[10] but was sacked exactly two months later.[11] On 27 May, he returned to SD Logroñés, with the club now in Primera División RFEF.[12]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
UD Logroñés29 March 201315 May 2014[13]
SD Logroñés6 June 201422 June 2016[14]
Anguiano22 June 201613 July 2017[15]
San Ignacio1 July 20189 February 2021
Alavés B9 February 20219 April 2021
SD Logroñés27 May 202130 May 2023[16]
Cultural Leonesa1 June 2023Present
Career total

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Irureta se despide con un triunfo intrascendente. Irureta bids farewell with an unimportant triumph. Mundo Deportivo. es. 23 June 1997. 26 November 2020.
  2. Web site: El mismo bloque con ilusiones renovadas. Same core with renewed hopes. El Correo. es. 26 July 2007. 26 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Llona vuelve a casa. Llona returns home. El Correo. es. 28 April 2009. 26 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Marea verde. Green sea. La Rioja. es. 26 August 2009. 26 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Llona se hace cargo de la UD Logroñés. Llona takes over UD Logroñés. La Rioja. es. 29 March 2013. 26 November 2020.
  6. Web site: Llona, nuevo entrenador de la SD Logroñés. Llona, new manager of SD Logroñés. Rioja2. es. 6 June 2014. 26 November 2020.
  7. Web site: Raúl Llona cambia la SD Logroñés por el Anguiano para la próxima temporada. Raúl Llona changes SD Logroñés for Anguiano the following season. La Rioja. es. 23 June 2016. 26 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Una estructura técnica de calidad para continuar con el buen trabajo de cantera. A quality technical organization chart to continue with the good work of the youth setup. Deportivo Alavés. es. 13 July 2017. 26 November 2020.
  9. Web site: El entrenador Raúl Llona renueva por dos temporadas con el San Ignacio. Manager Raúl Llona renews for two seasons with San Ignacio. El Correo. es. 19 May 2020. 26 November 2020.
  10. Web site: Raúl Llona, nuevo entrenador del Miniglorias. Raúl Llona, new manager of Miniglorias. Deportivo Alavés. es. 9 February 2021. 9 June 2021.
  11. Web site: Raúl Llona deja de ser entrenador del Miniglorias. Raúl Llona leaves Miniglorias. Deportivo Alavés. es. 9 April 2021. 9 June 2021.
  12. Web site: La SD Logroñés recupera a Raúl Llona como entrenador para la Primera RFEF. SD Logroñés recover Raúl Llona as manager for the Primera RFEF. La Rioja. es. 27 May 2021. 9 June 2021.

  13. Web site: 2014–15 SD Logroñés Results. Futbolme. Spanish. 2 April 2024.
    Web site: 2015–16 SD Logroñés Results. Futbolme. Spanish. 2 April 2024.
  14. Web site: 2016–17 CD Anguiano Results. Futbolme. Spanish. 2 April 2024.