Paco Herrera

Paco Herrera

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
Club information
Current club	Celta (coach)
Youth career
1965–1972	Damm
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1972–1974	Sabadell	61	(6)
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–	Celta
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Herrera and the second or maternal family name is Lorenzo.

Francisco "Paco" Herrera Lorenzo (born 2 December 1953) is a retired Spanish 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 seasons (18 in 1992–93 and six in 1994–95).

During three seasons, Herrera then coached in level two, 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 division, 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 games (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.

Herrera left England in the 2006 summer and returned to his country, serving as director of football at RCD Espanyol for three seasons. 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 2010–11, he continued working in the "silver category", with Celta de Vigo, leading it to the promotion playoffs, where the team lost in the semifinals against Granada CF, on penalties.

External links

• BDFutbol player profile
• BDFutbol coach profile
• Transfermarkt profile