Esteban Vigo

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vigo and the second or maternal family name is Benítez.

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

Esteban Vigo

Vigo in 2010
Personal information
Full name	Esteban Vigo Benítez[1]
Date of birth	(1955-01-17) 17 January 1955 (age 70)[1]
Place of birth	Vélez-Málaga, Spain[1]
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Santa María
1970–1972	Veleño
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1974	Atlético Malagueño
1974–1977	Málaga	53	(7)
1974–1975	→ Marbella (loan)
1977–1987	Barcelona	166	(18)
1987–1991	Málaga	109	(17)
Total		328	(42)
International career
1979–1980	Spain U23	6	(1)
1976	Spain amateur	3	(0)
1981	Spain B	3	(0)
1981	Spain	3	(0)
Managerial career
1995–1996	Almería
2001–2003	Barcelona C
2003–2004	Xerez
2004	Córdoba
2005	Progresul București (assistant)
2005	Universitatea Craiova (assistant)
2005–2006	Dinamo București
2007	Lleida
2008–2009	Xerez
2009–2011	Hércules
2012	Almería
2012–2013	Xerez
2021	Xerez
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

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,^[2][3] 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.^[4]

Esteban returned to his first club in 1987,^[5] 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,^[6] but did not make the final cut. He also represented the country at the 1976 Summer Olympics.^[7]

Coaching career

Taking up coaching afterwards, Vigo began in his native Andalusia with UD Almería,^[8][9] and continued to work mainly in the region,^[10][11] also having an abroad spell in Romania.^[12][13] In 2009 he led Xerez CD to their first top-tier promotion^[14] but, in July 2009, switched to another side in Segunda División, moving to Hércules CF^[15] and achieving the same as runner-up, with the Alicante club returning to the top flight after 13 years.^[16]

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.^[17] He was named the new Almería manager on 4 April of the following year, replacing Lucas Alcaraz.^[18]

In July 2012, Vigo returned to Xerez on a two-year deal with the option of two more.^[19] 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).^[20]

On 17 February 2021, Vigo returned for a fourth spell as manager of Xerez.^[21] He led the club to the promotion play-offs from Tercera División, but lost to AD Ceuta FC,^[22] leaving in the aftermath.^[23]

Outside football

Vigo released his autobiography, titled Ganador (winner), on 13 September 2010.^[24]

Honours

Player

Barcelona

• La Liga: 1984–85
• Copa del Rey: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83
• Supercopa de España: 1983
• Copa de la Liga: 1983, 1986
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1978–79, 1981–82

Málaga

• Segunda División: 1987–88

Manager

Xerez

• Segunda División: 2008–09