Diego Flores (footballer)
Rodolfo Diego Flores (born 11 December 1980) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played mainly as a midfielder.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Rodolfo Diego Flores[1] | ||
Date of birth | 11 December 1980 | ||
Place of birth | Córdoba, Argentina[2] | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
Las Flores | |||
2000–2006 | Sportivo Belgrano Almafuerte | ||
Progreso de Noetinger | |||
2009 | Sportivo Belgrano Almafuerte | ||
2013 | Kingswood Castle | ||
Managerial career | |||
General Paz Juniors (youth) | |||
Taborín (youth) | |||
2012 | Sportivo Belgrano Almafuerte | ||
2013 | Kingswood Castle (youth) | ||
2014–2015 | Marseille (assistant) | ||
2016 | Lazio (assistant) | ||
2017 | Lille (assistant) | ||
2018–2021 | Leeds United (assistant) | ||
2021–2022 | Godoy Cruz | ||
2023 | Godoy Cruz | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Career
Born in Córdoba, Flores only played amateur football before deciding he would become a coach at the age of 24.[2] He began his managerial career with General Paz Juniors, later working at Taborín's youth categories and Sportivo Belgrano de Almafuerte[1][3] before moving to Ireland in 2013 to study for UEFA qualifications.[4]
While in Ireland, Flores worked as a barista in a coffeehouse and played for Dublin-based side Kingswood Castle; at the club, he also helped managing the youth teams.[4] After leaving Ireland at the end of 2013, he moved to Southampton where he met Mauricio Pochettino, and later Marcelo Bielsa;[4] after a chat with Diego Reyes, a member of Bielsa's staff,[5] he was invited by Bielsa to join his coaching staff at Olympique de Marseille.[6]
Flores worked under Bielsa for a total of seven years, at Lazio, Lille OSC and Leeds United.[6] On 31 August 2021, he was appointed manager of Argentine Primera División side Godoy Cruz.[7]
Flores' first professional match occurred on 5 September 2021, a 4–0 home routing of Gimnasia La Plata.[8] The following April, he left the club on a mutual agreement.[9]
On 3 November 2022, Flores returned to Godoy Cruz, after being appointed manager for the upcoming season,[10] but again left the club the following 10 April, after being dismissed.[11]
References
- "De dirigir Belgrano a ascender con Bielsa" [From managing Belgrano to promoting with Bielsa] (in Spanish). LigaRioTres.com. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Flores, el nuevo DT de Godoy Cruz: "La vida me sorprendió hasta llegar a Marcelo Bielsa"" [Flores, the new manager of Godoy Cruz: "Life surprised me until reaching Marcelo Bielsa"] (in Spanish). Olé. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "De dirigir en el interior de Córdoba a ser DT de Godoy Cruz: la increíble historia de Diego Flores" [From managing in the countryside of Córdoba to becoming the manager of Godoy Cruz: the incredible history of Diego Flores] (in Spanish). La Voz del Interior. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Explained: Who are the men behind Bielsa?". The Athletic. 24 September 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Quién es Diego Flores, el trotamundos y traductor de Bielsa que se convirtió en DT de Godoy Cruz" [Who is Diego Torres, the globetrotter and translator of Bielsa who became the manager of Godoy Cruz] (in Spanish). Clarín. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "'Taught me to be a better person' - Godoy Cruz boss Diego Flores on working for Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "Diego Flores, de trabajar con Bielsa a ser entrenador en Godoy Cruz" [Diego Flores, from working with Bielsa to becoming a manager at Godoy Cruz] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- "La presentación de Diego Flores, en Godoy Cruz, en las cámaras de Paso a Paso" [The presentation of Diego Flores, at Godoy Cruz, in the cameras of Paso a Paso] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- "Diego Flores dejó de ser el director técnico de Godoy Cruz" [Diego Flores left as manager of Godoy Cruz] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 10 April 2022.
- "Diego Flores acordó su vuelta a Godoy Cruz y será el nuevo entrenador" [Diego Flores agreed his return to Godoy Cruz and will be the next manager] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 3 November 2022.
- "Diego Flores dejó nuevamente Godoy Cruz, un año y un día después del fin de su primer ciclo" [Diego Flores left Godoy Cruz again, one year and a day after the end of his first cycle] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
External links
- Diego Flores coach profile at Soccerway