Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso is a Spanish football coach who first managed the Solomon Islands national football team in 2017 and was re-appointed as coach in June 2021.

Felipe Vega-Arango
Personal information
Full name Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso[1]
Place of birth Gijon, Spain[1]
Team information
Current team
Papua New Guinea
Managerial career
Years Team
2017–2018 Solomon Islands
2021–2024 Solomon Islands
2024– Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

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Assuming the post of technical director for the Solomon Islands Football Federation in March 2017[2] after sending his CV to various football associations around the world,[3] Vega-Arango coevally held the position of coach for the country's national selection also, winning his first game in charge with a 3–2 victory over Papua New Guinea in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying phases.[4] This was followed by another 2–1 triumph over the same opposition.[5]

Before their Oceania Football Confederation decider match versus New Zealand[6] for entry into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he stated that his charges were ready for the round,[7] only to lose to the All Whites 6–1.[8] Despite saying that the chances of a win by a five-goal margin in the next leg were low,[8] Vega-Arango maintained that his ambition was to win the second round.[9] In the end, he led them to a 2–2 draw.

Arango was re-appointed as Head Coach of the Solomon Islands national football team in June 2021.[10]

Personal life

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Vega-Arango is the son of Manuel Vega-Arango, the former president of Spanish team Sporting de Gijón.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Felipe Vera-Arango". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  2. ^ España, La Nueva (7 March 2017). "Felipe Vega-Arango, director técnico de Islas Salomón".
  3. ^ a b "Clasificación Mundial 2018: Felipe Vega-Arango, el 'Rey Salomón' del fútbol - Marca.com". 15 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Selecciones: Felipe Vega-Arango debuta con victoria con Islas Salomón". migrantesdelbalon.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
  5. ^ "SI coach: Team deserved win - Loop PNG". 14 June 2017.
  6. ^ "El español Felipe Vega Arango lleva a Islas Salomón a la final de Oceanía". 13 June 2017.
  7. ^ Admin (2017-07-30). "'We're ready': Vera-Arango says Bonitos up for All Whites challenge | SIBC". Sibconline.com.sb. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  8. ^ a b "Sport: Solomons coach laments New Zealand mismatch". 4 September 2017.
  9. ^ "We're going for the win: Vega Arango - SIBC". Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Solomon Islands appoint new coach". 23 June 2021.