Arsenio Iglesias Pardo (born 24 December 1930) is a Spanish retired football forward and coach.

Nicknamed O Raposo de Arteixo ("The Fox of Arteixo"), his professional career, which spanned more than four decades, was closely associated to Deportivo La Coruña, as both a player and manager.^[1]

Playing career [edit]

Born in Arteixo, Province of A Coruña, Iglesias started his career with local side Deportivo de La Coruña. He made his La Liga debut on 28 October 1951 in a 1–6 away loss against FC Barcelona, and scored in the following weekend against RCD Español (3–1 home win).^[2]

Iglesias netted seven goals in three separate seasons for the Galicians, adding a career-best eight in 1956–57, which nonetheless ended in relegation. In six of the following eight years he also competed in the top division, representing Sevilla FC, Granada CF and Real Oviedo; he amassed totals in the main category of 238 games and 50 goals, and retired at 35 after a spell in the lower leagues with Albacete Balompié.^[3]

Managerial career [edit]

One year after retiring Iglesias started coaching, his first appointment being at Deportivo's reserves, which he accumulated with assistant duties in the main squad. Midway through 1970–71 he was named the first team's manager, leading it to a top flight promotion, and being relegated back in 1973.

In the 1973–74 season 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; in 1977–78 another top level promotion befell, this time as champions, with Real Zaragoza.

In two of the next three seasons Iglesias worked in the top division, leading Burgos CF to the 13th position in 1978–79 and leaving AD Almería midway through the 1980–81 campaign, due to several internal disputes. In 1982 he returned to Deportivo, with the club in the second level.

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. He was again reinstated as first-team manager, finally attaing promotion to division one in 1991, after ranking second.

Iglesias replaced sacked Marco Antonio Boronat at the club's helm late in the 1991–92 season, as Deportivo had to play a relegation playoff against Real Betis, eventually winning 2–1 on aggregate. In the following seasons, however, Super Depor came to fruition, with several team players winning individual accolades and being called to the Spanish national team as the side finished three consecutive campaigns in the top three; during this timeframe, he was named Manager of the Year three times, twice by Don Balón and once by El País.^[4]

Iglesias retired from football after 1994–95. Midway through the following season, however, he accepted an offer from Real Madrid to replace fired Jorge Valdano, with the Merengues finally ranking sixth and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

In 2005 Iglesias was appointed manager of the Galicia autonomous football team, working alongside Fernando Vázquez.^[5] In the previous decade, he also worked as a sports commentator.^[6]

Honours [edit]

Manager [edit]

Deportivo

• Copa del Rey: 1994–95

Zaragoza

• Segunda División: 1977–78

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• BDFutbol player profile
• BDFutbol coach profile
• Deportivo archives