Paco Herrera

Paco Herrera

Herrera in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Francisco Herrera Lorenzo
Date of birth	(1953-12-02) 2 December 1953
Place of birth	Barcelona, Spain
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1965–1972	Damm
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1972–1974	Sabadell	64	(5)
1974–1977	Sporting Gijón	44	(2)
1977–1979	Levante
1979–1986	Badajoz
Teams managed
1992	Badajoz
1995	Badajoz
1998	Numancia
1998–1999	Mérida
2000	Numancia
2001–2002	Albacete
2002–2003	Poli Ejido
2003	Recreativo
2004–2006	Liverpool (assistant)
2009	Castellón
2010	Villarreal B
2010–2013	Celta
2013–2014	Zaragoza
2014–2015	Las Palmas
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Francisco "Paco" Herrera Lorenzo (born 2 December 1953) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, and a current manager.

Playing career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Herrera started playing professionally with CE Sabadell FC in his native region, appearing in two Segunda División seasons with the team. In 1974 the 20-year-old signed for Sporting de Gijón in La Liga, suffering relegation in his second year.

After a two-season spell with Levante UD, Herrera retired from football with CD Badajoz in 1986 at the age of 32, having played mainly for the Extremaduran in Segunda División B, the new third level created in 1977.

Coaching career

Herrera was connected to his last club Badajoz for several years as a manager, first coaching its youth sides and later acting as assistant. He would manage the first team in 24 games in two separate second division campaigns (18 in 1992–93 and six in 1994–95).

During three seasons, Herrera then coached in the second level, with CD Numancia and CP Mérida, the only complete one being 1998–99. He was sacked by the latter in late November 1999, following a 1–3 loss at former club Levante; the team eventually ranked sixth, being however demoted due to financial irregularities.

After two seasons in division two, with Albacete Balompié and Polideportivo Ejido (ranking 10th and 13th respectively), Herrera was appointed at Recreativo de Huelva in the same category, being fired on 9 November 2003 after a 0–2 home loss against Andalusia neighbours Córdoba CF – the team had collected seven draws in 11 matches (plus two wins and as many losses). In the 2004 summer he joined countryman Rafael Benítez's coaching staff in Liverpool, working as both assistant manager and chief scout for two seasons.^[1]

Herrera left England in June 2006 and returned to his country, serving as director of football at RCD Espanyol for three seasons.^[2] He left the club in February 2009 to manage CD Castellón, replacing Atlético Madrid-bound Abel Resino for the final 21 games of the season and leading the Valencian to the seventh place in the second division.

On 4 February 2010 Herrera replaced Juan Carlos Garrido at the helm of Villarreal CF' reserves, also in the second level, as Garrido had been promoted to the main squad following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde. In the 2010–11 campaign he continued working in the second tier, with Celta de Vigo, leading it to the promotion playoffs where the team lost in the semifinals against Granada CF, on penalties.

Herrera was also in charge as the Galicians returned to the top flight at the end of the 2011–12 season, as runners-up. He was relieved of his duties on 18 February 2013 after a 1–3 away loss against Getafe CF, however, with the club ranking third from bottom^[3] but eventually saved.

Herrera was appointed at UD Las Palmas in the second division, on 3 July 2014.^[4] He achieved promotion in his first season, with the team returning to the main category after 13 years.

On 19 October 2015, after a 0–4 defeat at Getafe CF that left the Canarians ranking second from the bottom, Herrera was sacked and replaced by Quique Setién.^[5]

References

External links

• Paco Herrera profile at BDFutbol
• Paco Herrera manager profile at BDFutbol