Alejandro Varela

Alejandro Varela López (born 29 June 1979) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right back,[1] and later worked as a manager.[3]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Varela and the second or maternal family name is López.
For the American writer, see Alejandro Varela (writer).
Alejandro Varela
Personal information
Full name Alejandro Varela López[1]
Date of birth (1973-10-05) 5 October 1973[1]
Place of birth Alicante, Spain[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
–1992 Hércules
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1994 Mutxamel CF
1994–1997 Hércules 48 (1)
1997–1999 Toledo 58 (0)
1999–2000 Mérida 8 (0)
2000–2001 Hércules 21 (3)
2001–2006 Cádiz 157 (2)
2006–2007 Ciudad de Murcia 29 (0)
2007–2008 Orihuela 5 (0)
Total 326 (6)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Balón de Cádiz
2010–2011 Domingo Savio Juvenil
2015–2016 Conil CF
2022– Iraq(Assistant Manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 March 2021

Career

Varela was born in Alicante in the Valencian Community, and began his career in the youth teams of local side Hércules. He joined Mutxamel CF in the Tercera División in 1992, before returning to the Hércules first team two years later. He was an important part of the team that won the Segunda División title in 1995–96, earning promotion to La Liga. He left the club after their first season in the top flight, which ended in relegation, having made 54 appearances in all competitions, including 21 first division matches, scoring once. He joined Toledo in 1997, where he made 63 appearances in two Segunda División campaigns. He then signed for Mérida, playing nine matches during a turbulent 1999–2000 season,[2] which would prove to be the Extremadurans' last in existence. The club declared bankruptcy and folded that summer.[4][5]

Following the demise of Mérida, Varela returned for a third spell at Hércules, adding 21 Segunda División B appearances and three goals during one season at the club. He joined fellow third tier side Cádiz in 2001, and helped them to promotion via the play-offs in 2002–03. Two years later, he won the second Segunda División title of his career, and Cádiz were promoted to La Liga after a twelve-year absence. Like Varela's previous top flight experience nine years before, Cádiz were relegated after one season, and he left the club that summer with 170 appearances and two goals across five seasons. His next destination was Ciudad de Murcia, and he played 30 matches for the Segunda División side during 2006–07.[2]

For the second time in his career, his season with Murcia was the last in the club's existence, as they relocated to Granada, becoming Granada 74, that summer. This prompted Varela to join Orihuela in Segunda División B, with whom he made five appearances in one season, before retiring in 2008 at the age of 35.[2]

Coaching career

In 2009, Varela returned to Cádiz as coach of their C team, Balón de Cádiz. During the 2009–10 season, he was the coach of youth team Domingo Savio Juvenil. In November 2015, Varela was appointed manager of Conil CF in the Tercera División.[3] He was dismissed after fourteen games in February 2016, with the club eight points from safety in the relegation zone, and replaced by Chico Segundo.[6]

Personal life

Varela's father Pepe was also a footballer, representing both Málaga and Hércules in La Liga during the 1970s.[7]

Honours

Hércules

Cádiz

Career statistics
As of 14 March 2021[2]
Club Season League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hércules 1994–95 Segunda División 71––71
1995–96 20040–240
1996–97 La Liga 21020–230
Total 4816000541
Toledo 1997–98 Segunda División 36040–400
1998–99 22010–230
Total 5805000630
Mérida 1999–2000 Segunda División 8010–90
Hércules 2000–01 Segunda División B 21300–213
Hércules total 6946000754
Cádiz 2001–02 Segunda División B 32120–341
2002–03 240–60300
2003–04 Segunda División 26020–280
2004–05 40110–411
2005–06 La Liga 35020–370
Total 157270601702
Ciudad de Murcia 2006–07 Segunda División 29010–300
Orihuela 2007–08 Segunda División B 50––50
Career total 3266200603526
1.^ Appearances in the 2003 Segunda División B play-offs

References
  1. "Varela". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. "Varela". BDFutbol. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. "El ex del Cádiz CF, Alejandro Varela, nuevo entrenador del Conil". lavozdigital.es. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. Los extremeños le dan la plaza al Recreativo
  5. En peligro
  6. "Chico Segundo, nuevo entrenador del Conil tras la destitución de Varela". lavozdigital.es. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. "Varela". BDFutbol. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
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