Luis Helguera

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Helguera and the second or maternal family name is Bujía.
Luis Helguera
Personal information
Full name Luis Helguera Bujía
Date of birth (1976-06-09) 9 June 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Ferrol, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Las Palmas (sporting director)
Youth career
Callealtera
1984–1995 Racing Santander
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Manchego 72 (3)
1997–1999 Zaragoza B 64 (3)
1998–2000 Zaragoza 20 (0)
2000–2003 Udinese 54 (1)
2002–2003 → Alavés (loan) 22 (0)
2003–2005 Fiorentina 10 (0)
2004 → Ancona (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2008 Vicenza 109 (0)
2008–2013 Huesca 185 (8)
Total 440 (15)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Huesca (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luis Helguera Bujía (born 9 June 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

Playing career

Helguera was born in Ferrol, Galicia, his mother's hometown, but spent his entire upbringing in Santander, Cantabria, where he played in the youth system at Racing Club.[1] After beginning his senior career with lowly CD Manchego he moved to Real Zaragoza, where he featured mostly for the reserves and appeared sporadically in La Liga over three seasons (his most games being 16 in 1999–2000, as the Aragon side finished fourth).

After his older brother, Iván, had played one season at AS Roma, Helguera also moved to Italy, representing Udinese Calcio for two years with a Deportivo Alavés loan in between.[2] He spent a further five campaigns in that country, mostly in Serie B and latterly for Vicenza Calcio, returning in 2008 to his homeland to sign for SD Huesca, newcomers to Segunda División.[3]

Helguera rarely missed a game for the club during his spell, helping them to retain their second-tier status for four years. In 2010–11 he also collected a 20 yellow cards in 37 matches, the highest total in the division. [4] He retired in June 2013 at the age of 37 following relegation, amassing totals of 185 appearances and eight goals over the course of five seasons.[1]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Helguera was hired as Huesca's general manager. In October 2013, he was added to David Amaral's staff as an assistant coach, while also acting as match delegate.[5][6][7] He stepped down from that role the following March after the manager was dismissed, but remained at the club in other capacities.[8]

On 6 August 2015, Helguera was named UD Las Palmas' technical secretary.[9] He resigned from the position in April 2018, following their top-flight relegation.[10]

Helguera joined Levante UD in a similar role on 21 May 2018.[11] Roughly one year later, he left the Estadi Ciutat de València.[12]

On 2 March 2020, Helguera returned to Las Palmas, this time as sporting director; he signed a contract until June 2023.[13]

Personal life

Helguera was the younger brother of former Real Madrid, Valencia and Spain defender Iván Helguera. Both played abroad in Italy.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Martín, Ignacio (20 February 2017). ""Tengo clarísimo que viviré en Zaragoza, algún día volveré"" [""It's clear as can be I will live in Zaragoza, one day I will return"]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Alavés opt for Helguera". UEFA. 27 July 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Luis Helguera, refuerzo de lujo para el club oscense" [Luis Helguera, deluxe signing for club from Huesca]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 September 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Helguera: "Nos está costando un poquito"" [Helguera: "We are having a bit of a hard time"]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Helguera se pone el chándal" [Helguera puts his tracksuit on]. Diario del AltoAragón (in Spanish). 10 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Helguera estará en el cuerpo técnico oscense" [Helguera to be part of Huesca's coaching staff]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 10 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Helguera para todo" [Factotum Helguera] (in Spanish). Aragón Digital. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Helguera, nuevo director deportivo del Huesca" [Helguera, new Huesca sporting director]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 20 May 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  9. ^ Cruz, Toni (6 August 2015). "Luis Helguera, nuevo secretario técnico de la UD" [Luis Helguera, new UD technical secretary] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  10. ^ Izquierdo, Jesús (27 April 2018). "Luis Helguera, primer damnificado por el descenso" [Luis Helguera, first casualty of relegation]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  11. ^ López, Víctor (21 May 2018). "Luis Helguera, nuevo secretario técnico del Levante" [Luis Helguera, new Levante technical secretary]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  12. ^ Miranda, Nahuel (15 May 2019). "Luis Helguera abandona el Levante y abre la puerta a la continuidad de Tito como director deportivo" [Luis Helguera leaves Levante and opens door for Tito to remain as sporting director]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Luis Helguera, nuevo director deportivo de la UD Las Palmas" [Luis Helguera, new UD Las Palmas sporting director] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  14. ^ "El exzaragocista Luis Helguera apuesta por su hermano Iván" [Former zaragocista Luis Helguera bets on brother Iván]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 16 March 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2014.