Fernando Santiago Varela

Fernando Andrés Santiago Varela (born 4 June 1973) is an Argentine-born Spanish football coach.[1] He currently serves as the head coach of I-League 2 club Bengaluru United.

Fernando Santiago Varela
Santiago Varela at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman
Personal information
Full name Fernando Andrés Santiago Varela
Date of birth (1973-06-04) 4 June 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth Mar del Plata, Argentina
Team information
Current team
Bengaluru United (head coach)
Managerial career
Years Team
2011–2012 Tecnofútbol (youth)
2012–2017 Tecnofútbol
2018 Gokulam Kerala
2019–2020 Gokulam Kerala
2020–2021 Churchill Brothers
2021–2022 Sreenidi Deccan
2022–2023 Churchill Brothers
2023– Bengaluru United

Managerial career

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Fernando Varela is an Argentine-born Spanish coach.[2] He is a UEFA Pro Licence holder and from 2011 to 2014 he was Football coordinator of the Almeda CD in Cornellá de Llobregat. He has previously coached Catalalan CE Tecnofútbol in the lower leagues[3] before joining Gokulam.[4] He is the author of the book Futbol Inteligente (Smart Football).[5] In 2018 March he appointed as the head coach of Indian top division club Gokulam Kerala and under him they won the Kerala Premier League. Before the I-League season he was sacked by the club due to personal reason but after revealed that the language was the problem because Varela was not good at English.[6]

Gokulam Kerala

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On 1 June 2019, it was announced that Fernando Varela would take over as head coach of I-League side Gokulam Kerala[7][8][9] under him they won Durand cup one of the oldest football tournament in Asia.[10][11][12] On 16 June 2020, he left Gokulam due to salary issues and the performance of the club not impressing the owners.[13][14]

Churchill Brothers

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After his successful spell with Gokulam Kerala, he moved to another I-League side Churchill Brothers in September 2020.[15] Under his guidance, Churchill emerged as the runners-up of the 2020–21 I-League with 29 points.[16][17][18] Although Churchill winning against Punjab, Gokulam Kerala were crowned champions courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

Sreenidi Deccan

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On 20 April 2021, Varela was appointed the head coach of Sreenidi Deccan, one of the new I-League entrants.[19][20]

Bengaluru United

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On 13 March 2023, it was officially announced that he was appointed head coach of Bengaluru United.[21][22] He was sacked by the club in August, and was replaced by Sankarlal Chakraborty.[23]

He came back to Bengaluru United in November 2023, as in charge of the team in BDFA Super Division League.[24]

Statistics

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Managerial statistics

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As of 23 March 2024
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Gokulam Kerala 01 June 2019 16 June 2020 20 11 4 5 055.00
Churchill Brothers 23 September 2020 27 March 2021 15 8 5 2 053.33
Sreenidi Deccan 20 April 2021 13 June 2022 18 9 5 4 050.00
Churchill Brothers 01 December 2022 01 February 2023 6 2 3 1 033.33
Bengaluru United 01 February 2023 Present 19 12 3 4 063.16
Total 71 37 19 15 052.11

Honours

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Manager

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Gokulam Kerala

Churchill Brothers

FC Bengaluru United

References

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  1. ^ Sarkar, Sattyik (20 December 2021). "All you need to know about I-League debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC". khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  2. ^ Olé (5 May 2020). "El argentino que triunfa en India". www.ole.com.ar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. ^ "P.B. Vallirana-Fitxa Partit". Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Gokulam Kerala FC's Spanish coach Fernando Santiago Valera leaving no stone unturned for future". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Fútbol Inteligente". Librerías Gandhi (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Gokulam Kerala FC sack head coach Valera - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  7. ^ നായര്‍, അനീഷ് പി. "പന്തെടുക്കാന്‍ പറയുന്നതുവരെ ആംഗ്യഭാഷയില്‍;ഒടുവില്‍ വലേര ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പഠിച്ചു, ഗോകുലം കളിയും". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Men's Team". Gokulam Kerala FC. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. ^ Chakravarti, Neelav (24 August 2019). "Durand Cup Final, Mohun Bagan Vs Gokulam Kerala, Highlights: Marcus Joseph Brace Helps GKFC Win Title". OutlookIndia.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Durand final will be a 'battle of nerves': Santiago Varela | Hero I-League". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  11. ^ "THE fans can always be proud of us". Gokulam Kerala FC. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Pleno español en el fútbol de la India". AS.com (in Spanish). 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Gokulam Kerala and head coach Varela part ways". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  14. ^ "ഗോകുലം കോച്ച് വരേല പുറത്ത്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  15. ^ Joshi, Rutvij (24 September 2020). "Fernando Santiago Varela appointed new Churchill Brothers head coach". khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  16. ^ "I-League: Churchill Brothers survives late Gokulam Kerala scare to extend lead atop". Sportstar.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  17. ^ "I-League 2021: Gokulam Kerala, TRAU and Churchill in race for title; three front-runners for season's top-scorer". Firstpost.com. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  18. ^ "I-League: Churchill Brothers Beat Punjab FC 3-2, But Lose Title Race". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  19. ^ "I-League debutants Sreenidhi FC set to appoint Fernando Varela as head coach". Goal.com. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Fernando Varela appointed as head coach". Twitter. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  21. ^ "FC Bengaluru United part ways with Khalid Jamil; announce Fernando Varela as new coach". thebridge.in. The Bridge News Desk. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  22. ^ "FC Bengaluru United announce Fernando Varela as Head Coach, after parting ways with Khalid Jamil". footballcounter.com. Bengaluru: Football Counter. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  23. ^ "আর্জেন্টাইন কোচ ছাঁটাই, বেঙ্গালুরুর ক্লাবে হেডস্যার হয়ে ফিরছেন শঙ্করলাল" [Argentine coach sacked, Sankarlal is back as heqd coach, this time with Bengaluru United]. thewall.in (in Bengali). Kolkata: The Wall Bureau News. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  24. ^ "BDFA Men's Super Division League 2023–24 | South United FC 3–3 FC Bengaluru United (9 November 2023)". the-aiff.com. Bengaluru: All India Football Federation. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  25. ^ "Gokulam Kerala creates history, wins Durand Cup". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Stafford Cup 2023: FC Bengaluru United become champions- Highlights". thebridge.in. The Bridge. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.

Further reading

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