Luis César Sampedro

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

Luis Ángel César Sampedro (born 3 May 1966), known as Luis César, is a Spanish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper, currently manager of Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

Luis César

Luis César in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Luis Ángel César Sampedro
Date of birth	(1966-05-03) 3 May 1966 (age 59)
Place of birth	Vilagarcía de Arousa, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Gimnàstic (manager)
Youth career
	Tótem FC
	Faxilde CF
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1984–1987	Arosa
1987–1992	Lalín	110	(1)
1992–2000	Racing Ferrol	161	(0)
Total		271	(1)
Managerial career
2000–2004	Racing Ferrol
2004–2007	Gimnàstic
2007–2008	Poli Ejido
2010	Gimnàstic
2012	Alcoyano
2013–2016	Albacete
2016–2017	Lugo
2017–2018	Valladolid
2019	Tenerife
2019	Deportivo La Coruña
2021	Lugo
2025–	Gimnàstic
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Vilagarcía de Arousa, Province of Pontevedra, Luis César played for Racing de Ferrol for nearly a decade,^[1] never appearing in higher than Segunda División B.

In 2000, precisely after the Galician club returned to the Segunda División after a 21-year absence, he retired from the game at the age of 34.

Coaching career

Immediately after retiring, César began coaching his only club, being relegated from division two in his third season and promoting immediately. In 2004, he signed with another team in the second tier, Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

Luis César led Nàstic to La Liga in the 2005–06 campaign, with the Catalans returning to the tournament after 56 years.^[2] On 26 November 2006, however, after a 2–3 home loss against RCD Mallorca, with the side having only totalled five points in 12 rounds, he was fired.^[3]

For 2007–08, César signed for Polideportivo Ejido in the second division, but did not finish the season once more, being sacked after the 21st matchday (out of 42), with Fernando Castro Santos taking his place as the Andalusians were relegated after a seven-year stay in the competition. On 6 March 2010, months after a move to UD Las Palmas was eventually aborted,^[1] he returned to Gimnàstic after the dismissal of César Ferrando,^[4] with the team eventually finishing in 18th position – the first place above the relegation zone – just one point ahead of Cádiz CF.

On 6 December 2010, following a 1–2 home defeat to Villarreal CF B, Luis César was relieved of his duties at Gimnàstic, as the team ranked 22nd and last with just two wins in 15 games.^[5] In the 2011–12 campaign he was one of two managers in charge of CD Alcoyano,^[6] who were finally relegated from the second tier.^[7]

Luis César was appointed at Albacete Balompié on 20 March 2013,^[8] leading it to promotion at the end of his first full season.^[9] He was fired on 12 March 2016,^[10] and continued to work in division two with CD Lugo (two spells),^[11][12] Real Valladolid,^[13] CD Tenerife^[14] and Deportivo de La Coruña.^[15]

On 11 May 2025, after more than four years without a club, Luis César returned to Gimnàstic for a third spell on a contract until June 2026.^[16]

Managerial statistics

As of match played 17 April 2021

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record								Ref
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Racing Ferrol		30 June 2000	1 July 2004	176	63	48	65	212	213	−1	035.80	[17]
Gimnàstic		1 July 2004	26 November 2006	103	43	21	39	118	119	−1	041.75	[18]
Poli Ejido		28 June 2007	21 January 2008	22	5	5	12	18	33	−15	022.73	[19]
Gimnàstic		6 March 2010	6 December 2010	31	6	9	16	28	43	−15	019.35	[20]
Alcoyano		21 March 2012	4 June 2012	13	3	1	9	16	30	−14	023.08	[21]
Albacete		19 March 2013	12 March 2016	131	55	33	43	172	156	+16	041.98	[22]
Lugo		15 June 2016	15 June 2017	43	14	13	16	50	54	−4	032.56	[23]
Valladolid		23 June 2017	10 April 2018	38	16	9	13	60	49	+11	042.11	[24]
Tenerife		13 May 2019	11 June 2019	4	2	1	1	3	4	−1	050.00	[25]
Deportivo La Coruña		7 October 2019	27 December 2019	12	2	4	6	8	18	−10	016.67	[26]
Lugo		2 March 2021	19 April 2021	8	0	3	5	3	14	−11	000.00	[27]
Gimnàstic		11 May 2025	Present	0	0	0	0	0	0	+0	!—	[28]
Total				581	209	147	225	688	733	−45	035.97	—