Arsenio Iglesias

{{Short description|Spanish football player and manager (1930–2023)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Arsenio Iglesias

| image = ArsenioIglesias.jpg

| caption = Iglesias in 2016

| fullname = Arsenio Iglesias Pardo

| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|12|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Arteixo, Spain

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|5|5|1930|12|24|df=y}}

| death_place = A Coruña, Spain

| height = {{height|m=1.69}}

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Penouqueira

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Ciudad Jardín

| youthyears3 = | youthclubs3 = Bergantiños

| youthyears4 = | youthclubs4 = Deportivo La Coruña

| years1 = 1950–1951 | clubs1 = Deportivo Fabril | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1951–1957 | clubs2 = Deportivo La Coruña | caps2 = 135 | goals2 = 32

| years3 = 1957–1958 | clubs3 = Sevilla | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 2

| years4 = 1958–1964 | clubs4 = Granada | caps4 = 111 | goals4 = 22

| years5 = 1964–1965 | clubs5 = Oviedo | caps5 = 37 | goals5 = 6

| years6 = 1965–1966 | clubs6 = Albacete | caps6 = | goals6 =

| totalcaps = 291 | totalgoals = 62

| manageryears1 = 1967–1970 | managerclubs1 = Deportivo Fabril

| manageryears2 = 1971–1973 | managerclubs2 = Deportivo La Coruña

| manageryears3 = 1973–1977 | managerclubs3 = Hércules

| manageryears4 = 1977–1978 | managerclubs4 = Zaragoza

| manageryears5 = 1978–1979 | managerclubs5 = Burgos

| manageryears6 = 1979–1980 | managerclubs6 = Elche

| manageryears7 = 1980 | managerclubs7 = Almería

| manageryears8 = 1982–1985 | managerclubs8 = Deportivo La Coruña

| manageryears9 = 1986–1987 | managerclubs9 = Compostela

| manageryears10 = 1988–1991 | managerclubs10 = Deportivo La Coruña

| manageryears11 = 1992–1995 | managerclubs11 = Deportivo La Coruña

| manageryears12 = 1996 | managerclubs12 = Real Madrid

| manageryears13 = 2005–2008 | managerclubs13 = Galicia

}}

Arsenio Iglesias Pardo (24 December 1930 – 5 May 2023) was a Spanish football player and manager.

Nicknamed O Bruxo de Arteixo ("The Wizard of Arteixo"), he had a five-decade professional career closely associated to Deportivo as both a player and manager.{{cite news|url=http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/deportes/2011/04/29/00031304100291362620529.htm|title=Lecciones de humildad para Mou de parte de un viejo "zorro"|trans-title=Lessons in humility to Mou from an old "fox"|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|first=Lucía|last=Mariño|language=es|date=28 April 2011|access-date=19 March 2012}}

Playing career

Born in Arteixo, Province of A Coruña, Iglesias played as a forward and started his career with local side Deportivo de La Coruña. He made his La Liga debut on 28 October 1951 in a 6–1 away loss against FC Barcelona,{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1951/10/29/pagina-3/629771/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=Barcelona, 6 – Coruña, 1|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Carlos|last=Pardo|language=es|date=29 October 1951|access-date=11 January 2022}} and scored the following weekend against RCD Español (3–1 home win).{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1951/11/05/pagina-3/629794/pdf.html|title=D. Coruña, 3 – Español, 1|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=5 November 1951|access-date=11 June 2014}}

Iglesias netted seven goals in three separate seasons for the Galicians, adding a career-best eight in 1956–57, which nonetheless ended in relegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.g24.gal/-/morre-arsenio-iglesias-aos-92-anos|title=Morre Arsenio Iglesias, historia e lenda do Deportivo e do fútbol galego|trans-title=Death of Arsenio Iglesias, history and legend of Deportivo and Galician football|publisher=G24|language=gl|date=5 May 2023|access-date=5 May 2023}} In six of the following eight years he also played in the top division, representing Sevilla FC, Granada CF and Real Oviedo; he amassed competition totals of 238 games and 50 goals, and retired at 35 after a spell in the lower leagues with Albacete Balompié.{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/torremarathon/2020/12/24/arsenio-iglesias-90-anos-leyenda-deportivista/00031608800974198378539.htm|title=Arsenio Iglesias, 90 años de leyenda deportivista|trans-title=Arsenio Iglesias, 90 years of deportivista legend|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|language=es|date=24 December 2020|access-date=3 February 2023}}

Coaching career

Iglesias started coaching one year after retiring, his first appointment being at Deportivo's reserves, which he accumulated with assistant duties in the main squad. Midway through the 1970–71 campaign he was named the first team's manager, leading them to a top-flight promotion{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/torremarathon/2021/02/19/arsenio-debut-campo-vietnamita/00031613753363970892766.htm|title=Arsenio Iglesias y su debut en el banquillo coruñés en un duelo bronco contra el Racing|trans-title=Arsenio Iglesias and his debut in Coruña's bench in tough-as-can-be clash against Racing|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|first=Jesús|last=Flores|language=es|date=19 February 2021|access-date=11 January 2022}} and being relegated in 1973.{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/torremarathon/2021/06/04/hombre-riazor-arsenio/00031622821111798915523.htm|title=Hay un hombre en Riazor: Arsenio Iglesias|trans-title=There's a man in Riazor: Arsenio Iglesias|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|first=Lois|last=Balado|language=es|date=4 June 2021|access-date=11 January 2022}}

In 1973–74, Iglesias repeated the feat with another Segunda División side, Hércules CF, then remained at the club's helm for a further three years, always managing to comfortably stay afloat – this included a fifth place in 1975 and a sixth in 1976.{{cite news|url=https://www.informacion.es/hercules-cf/2017/07/27/riazor-aplaude-homenaje-hercules-arsenio-6312469.html|title=Riazor aplaude el homenaje del Hércules a Arsenio Iglesias|trans-title=Riazor cheers Hércules homage to Arsenio Iglesias|newspaper=Diario Información|language=es|date=27 July 2017|access-date=11 January 2022}} In the 1977–78 season another promotion to the main division befell, this time as champions with Real Zaragoza.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/deportes/futbol/real-zaragoza/2016/04/23/aquel-ascenso-del-dia-san-jorge-1978-844537-611027.html|title=Aquel ascenso del Real Zaragoza el Día de San Jorge de 1978...|trans-title=That Real Zaragoza promotion on Saint George's Day in 1978...|newspaper=Heraldo de Aragón|first=Paco|last=Giménez|language=es|date=23 April 2016|access-date=25 March 2020}}

Iglesias worked in the top tier in two of the next three seasons, leading Burgos CF to the 13th position in 1978–79{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodeburgos.es/noticia/zf15bafbd-bf5c-44b1-a8bf2e7117ca3632/20120827/carmelo/ortega/dos/decadas/vestuario/burgos/cf|title=Carmelo Ortega, dos décadas en el vestuario del Burgos CF|trans-title=Carmelo Ortega, two decades in Burgos CF's locker room|newspaper=Diario de Burgos|first=Ana Isabel|last=Angulo|language=es|date=27 August 2012|access-date=11 January 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/mas-futbol/2017/12/25/5a3e8b5c268e3e784c8b457b.html|title=El Burgos CF, una leyenda de los 70|trans-title=Burgos CF, legend of the 70s|newspaper=Marca|first=Diego|last=García|language=es|date=25 December 2017|access-date=11 January 2022}} and being fired by AD Almería midway through the 1980–81 campaign amid several internal disputes.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1980/12/19/deportes/346028404_850215.html|title=Fuertes sanciones en el Almería|trans-title=Heavy sanctions at Almería|newspaper=El País|first=Pedro Manuel|last=De la Cruz|language=es|date=19 December 2020|access-date=13 January 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodealmeria.es/deportes/Solo-veces-cambio-entrenador-AD_0_879212533.html|title=Sólo dos veces cambió de entrenador la AD|trans-title=AD only changed managers twice|newspaper=Diario de Almería|first=J.L.|last=Bretones|language=es|date=10 January 2015|access-date=13 January 2022}} In 1982 he returned to Deportivo, with the club in division two.

In 1987–88, Iglesias was one of three coaches as Depor nearly suffered relegation to Segunda División B, being saved by a last-minute goal against Racing de Santander.{{cite news|url=https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/deportivo/2020/07/19/vicente-celeiro-complicado-hay-creer-23478368.html|title=Vicente Celeiro: "Está complicado, pero hay que creer hasta el final"|trans-title=Vicente Celeiro: "We have it tough, but we have to believe until the end"|newspaper=La Opinión A Coruña|first=Eugenio|last=Cobas|language=es|date=19 July 2020|access-date=11 January 2022}} He was again reinstated as first-team manager, finally attaining promotion to the first division in 1991 after ranking second.

Iglesias replaced the dismissed Marco Antonio Boronat at the club's helm late in 1991–92, as Deportivo had to play a relegation playoff against Real Betis, eventually winning 2–1 on aggregate.{{cite news|url=https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/deportivo/2017/04/19/arsenio-empezo-24289396.html|title=Y con Arsenio empezó todo|trans-title=The beginning of it all was with Arsenio|newspaper=La Opinión A Coruña|first=Carlos|last=Miranda|language=es|date=19 April 2017|access-date=11 January 2022}} In the following seasons, however, Super Depor came to fruition, with several team players winning individual accolades and being called to the Spain national team as the side finished three consecutive campaigns in the top three;{{cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/espana/nota/_/id/6958284/el-deportivo-la-coruna-revive-su-unico-titulo-de-la-liga-en-el-20-aniversario-de-su-triunfo|title=El Deportivo La Coruña revive su único título de La Liga, en el 20 aniversario de su triunfo|trans-title=Deportivo La Coruña relive their only La Liga title, in the 20th anniversary of their conquest|publisher=ESPN|first=Sid|last=Lowe|language=es|date=19 May 2020|access-date=11 January 2022}} during this timeframe, he was named Manager of the Year three times, twice by Don Balón and once by El País.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/spanpoy.html|title=Spain – Footballer of the Year|publisher=RSSSF|first=Emilio|last=Pla Díaz|access-date=19 March 2012}}

Iglesias retired from football after 1994–95. Midway through the following campaign, however, he accepted an offer from Real Madrid to replace the fired Jorge Valdano, with the Merengues eventually ranking sixth and being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League by eventual winners Juventus FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.juventus.com/en/news/news/2014/super-six-against-spanish-opposition.php|title=Super six against Spanish opposition|publisher=Juventus F.C|date=8 December 2014|access-date=25 March 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/01/22/56a28980268e3eb27a8b4605.html|title=Hace 20 años pasó un 'Brujo' por Madrid|trans-title=A 'Wizard' went by Madrid 20 years ago|newspaper=El Mundo|first=Jaime|last=Rodríguez|language=es|date=22 January 2016|access-date=11 January 2022}}

In 2005, Iglesias was appointed manager of the Galicia national team, working alongside Fernando Vázquez.{{cite news|url=http://www.elcorreogallego.es/index.php?idMenu=5&idNoticia=364853|title=Arsenio Iglesias: "Nunca se acaba de ser profeta del todo en la tierra propia"|trans-title=Arsenio Iglesias: "One is never truly a prophet in your hometown"|newspaper=El Correo Gallego|first=Enrique|last=Beotas|language=es|date=14 November 2008|access-date=25 October 2011}} In the previous decade, he also worked as a sports commentator.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/feb/07/cat-invades-anfield-pitch|title=They think it's all over … it is meow, as cat invades Anfield pitch|newspaper=The Guardian|first=John|last=Ashdown|date=7 February 2012|access-date=21 March 2012}}

In 2016, Iglesias was bestowed with the highest recognition of Deportivo, a special insignia, and was declared "Blue and White Legend". The event took place at halftime of the last game of the 2015–16 season, at the Estadio Riazor.{{cite web|url=http://canaldeportivo.com/servlet/es.iris.servlets.Noticias?accion=4&ver=1&nid=32641&mid=12|title=Arsenio Iglesias, lenda do Deportivismo, recibe a homenaxe de Riazor|trans-title=Arsenio Iglesias, legend of Deportivismo, receives Riazor's tribute|publisher=Deportivo La Coruña|language=gl|date=14 May 2016|access-date=16 May 2016}}

Death

Iglesias died in A Coruña on 5 May 2023, at age 92.{{cite news|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/torremarathon/2023/05/05/fallece-92-anos-arsenio-iglesias-leyenda-deportivo/00031683281491479195364.htm|title=Muere a los 92 años Arsenio Iglesias, leyenda del Deportivo|trans-title=Death at 92 of Arsenio Iglesias, Deportivo legend|newspaper=La Voz de Galicia|first1=Pedro|last1=Barreiros|first2=Alexandre|last2=Centeno|language=es|date=5 May 2023|access-date=5 May 2023}}

Honours

=Manager=

Zaragoza

Segunda División: 1977–78

Deportivo

Copa del Rey: 1994–95{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1995/06/28/pagina-9/1323756/pdf.html|title=Supertítulo|trans-title=Supertitle|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Carlos E.|last=Carbajosa|language=es|date=28 June 1995|access-date=9 September 2014}}