Rafael Berges Explained

Rafael Berges
Fullname:Rafael Berges Martín
Birth Date:21 January 1971
Birth Place:Córdoba, Spain
Position:Left-back
Youthclubs1:Córdoba
Years1:1989–1991
Caps1:70
Goals1:2
Years2:1991–1993
Caps2:42
Goals2:1
Years3:1993–2001
Caps3:159
Goals3:7
Years4:2001–2002
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Totalcaps:274
Totalgoals:10
Nationalyears1:1991
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1991–1992
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:2
Manageryears1:2005–2006
Managerclubs1:Córdoba B
Manageryears2:2006
Managerclubs2:Lucena
Manageryears3:2007
Managerclubs3:Almería B
Manageryears4:2008
Managerclubs4:Séneca (youth)
Manageryears5:2008
Managerclubs5:Linares
Manageryears6:2010–2011
Managerclubs6:Pozoblanco
Manageryears7:2012
Managerclubs7:Córdoba B
Manageryears8:2012–2013
Managerclubs8:Córdoba
Manageryears9:2015
Managerclubs9:Jaén
Manageryears10:2016–2017
Managerclubs10:Logroñés
Manageryears11:2018
Managerclubs11:Mitra Kukar
Manageryears12:2019
Managerclubs12:Mitra Kukar
Manageryears13:2020
Managerclubs13:Badak Lampung

Rafael Berges Martín (born 21 January 1971) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left-back, currently a manager.

Playing career

Club

Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Berges started playing for local Córdoba CF in the lower leagues. In the 1991–92 campaign he joined CD Tenerife, going on to spend two years in La Liga at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López.[1]

Signing with RC Celta de Vigo in 1993, Berges went on to make nearly 200 overall appearances and score seven league goals for the Galicians. He took part in no games in his final two seasons, however, due to recurrent injuries.[2] [3]

At the end of 2001–02, aged 31, Berges retired with his first club Córdoba, now in the Segunda División. His second spell was cut short, again due to several physical problems.[2]

International

Berges was the first-choice for Spain at the 1992 Summer Olympics, as the nation won the gold medal on home soil. He scored twice, including in the 2–0 semi-final win over Ghana.[4] [5]

Coaching career

Berges took up coaching in 2005, starting with Córdoba CF B. Amongst other lowly sides, he would also manage UD Almería's reserves.[6]

On 14 June 2012, Berges was named Córdoba's main squad head coach, replacing Rayo Vallecano-bound Paco Jémez.[7] He was relieved of his duties on 7 April of the following year, with the team ranking ninth in the second division.[8]

In the 2014–15 and 2016–17 campaigns, Berges was in charge of third-tier clubs Real Jaén[9] and UD Logroñés, respectively.[10] He went on to work in Liga 1 (Indonesia), with PS Mitra Kukar and Badak Lampung FC.[11] [12]

Honours

Spain U23

1992[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Los diez cordobeses con más partidos en Primera. The ten native from Córdoba with more matches in Primera. ABC. Álvaro. Vega. es. 16 February 2016. 20 January 2022.
  2. News: Los ciclos y el destino. Cycles and fate. El Día de Córdoba. Francisco. Merino. es. 14 June 2012. 28 April 2013.
  3. Web site: Rafael Berges. Yo Jugué en el Celta. es. 16 October 2008. 18 June 2012.
  4. News: Supervivientes de oro. Golden survivors. El País. Juan. Morenilla. es. 25 February 2007. 24 May 2018.
  5. Web site: El triunfo en el fútbol, broche de oro para España en Barcelona 92. Football win, icing on the cake for Spain in Barcelona 92. Dame Un Silbidito. es. April 2010. 21 April 2016.
  6. Web site: Rafa Berges, oro en Barcelona'92, busca equipo como entrenador. Rafa Berges, gold in Barcelona'92, looking for team to manage. Soitu. es. 24 March 2008. 28 April 2013.
  7. News: Rafa Berges toma el mando. Rafa Berges takes over. Diario Córdoba. Ignacio. Luque. es. 14 June 2012. 28 April 2013.
  8. News: Esnáider, nuevo entrenador del Córdoba. Esnáider, new manager of Córdoba. Heraldo de Aragón. es. 8 April 2013. 21 April 2016.
  9. News: El cordobés Rafael Berges, nuevo entrenador del Real Jaén. Córdoba-born Rafael Berges, new manager of Real Jaén. Mundo Deportivo. es. 12 January 2015. 31 March 2020.
  10. News: Rafael Berges, nuevo entrenador de la UD Logroñés. Rafael Berges, new manager of UD Logroñés. Marca. es. 29 November 2016. 31 March 2020.
  11. News: Rafael Berges encuentra su hogar en Indonesia. Rafael Berges finds his home in Indonesia. Marca. Borja. Sarobe. es. 28 March 2018. 31 March 2020.
  12. News: Rafa Berges regresa a Indonesia. Rafa Berges returns to Indonesia. Diario Córdoba. Ignacio. Luque. es. 21 January 2020. 31 March 2020.
  13. Web site: La Roja de 1992, nuestra medalla de oro Olímpica. 1992's La Roja, our Olympic gold medal. Antena 3. es. 3 July 2012. 13 July 2017.