Luis Helguera

Luis Helguera Bujía (born 9 June 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Helguera and the second or maternal family name is Bujía.
Luis Helguera
Personal information
Full name Luis Helguera Bujía
Date of birth (1976-06-09) 9 June 1976
Place of birth Ferrol, Spain
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Las Palmas (sporting director)
Youth career
Callealtera
1984–1995 Racing Santander
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1997 Manchego 72 (3)
1997–1999 Zaragoza B 64 (3)
1998–2000 Zaragoza 20 (0)
2000–2003 Udinese 54 (1)
2002–2003 → Alavés (loan) 22 (0)
2003–2005 Fiorentina 10 (0)
2004 → Ancona (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2008 Vicenza 109 (0)
2008–2013 Huesca 185 (8)
Total 440 (15)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Huesca (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Helguera was born in Ferrol, Galicia. After beginning with lowly Club Deportivo Manchego he moved to La Liga with Real Zaragoza, where he appeared sporadically (his most games being 16 in 1999–2000, as the Aragon side finished fourth).

After his older brother, Iván, had played one season at A.S. Roma, Helguera also moved to Italy, representing Udinese Calcio for two years with a Deportivo Alavés loan in between.[1] He spent a further six campaigns also in that country, mostly in Serie B, returning in 2008 to his homeland to sign with a second division newcomer, SD Huesca.[2]

Helguera rarely missed a game for the club during his spell, helping it consecutively retain its status. In 2010–11 he also collected a season-worse 20 yellow cards, in 37 matches.[3] He retired in June 2013 at the age of 37 following the team's relegation, amassing second-tier totals of 185 appearances and eight goals over the course of five seasons.[4]

Later career

SD Huesca

After retiring in the summer 2013, Helguera was hired to the sporting management of SD Huesca, and also as an umpire for the club. In October 2013, he was also added to the technical staff of David Amaral as an assistant coach, beside his other roles.[5][6][7]

Helguera stepped down from the assistant coach role in March 2014 when David Amaral left the club, but continued in his other roles. On 20 May 2014, he was officially appointed sporting director of Huesca.[8] He left Huesca in the summer 2015.

Las Palmas

On 6 August 2015, Helguera was named UD Las Palmas' technical secretary.[9] Helguera resigned from the position on 27 April 2018.[10]

Levante

On 21 May 2018, Helguera joined UD Levante in a similar role as in Las Palmas as a technical secretary.[11] He left the position a year later in May 2019.[12]

Return to Las Palmas

On 2 March 2020, Helguera returned to UD Las Palmas, however, this time as the clubs new sporting director. He signed a deal until June 2023.[13]

Personal life

Helguera was the younger brother of former Real Madrid, Valencia and Spain defender Iván Helguera. Both played abroad in Italy.[14]

References
  1. "Alavés opt for Helguera". UEFA. 27 July 2002. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  2. "Luis Helguera, refuerzo de lujo para el club oscense" [Luis Helguera, deluxe signing for club from Huesca]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 September 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. "Helguera: "Nos está costando un poquito"" [Helguera: "We are having a bit of a hard time"]. Marca (in Spanish). 29 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. Martín, Ignacio (20 February 2017). ""Tengo clarísimo que viviré en Zaragoza, algún día volveré"" ["It's clear as can be I will live in Zaragoza, I will return someday"]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. DEPORTES Helguera se pone el chándal - Diario del ..., store.diariodelaltoaragon.es, 10 October 2013
  6. Helguera estará en el cuerpo técnico oscense, elperiodicodearagon.com, 10 October 2013
  7. Helguera para todo, historico.aragondigital.es, 10 October 2013
  8. Helguera, nuevo director deportivo del Huesca, elperiodicodearagon.com, 20 May 2014
  9. Cruz, Toni (6 August 2015). "Luis Helguera, nuevo secretario técnico de la UD" [Luis Helguera, new UD technical secretary] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  10. Luis Helguera, primer damnificado por el descenso, marca.com, 27 April 2018
  11. Luis Helguera, nuevo secretario técnico del Levante, as.com, 21 May 2018
  12. Luis Helguera abandona el Levante y abre la puerta a la continuidad de Tito como director deportivo, marca.com, 15 May 2019
  13. Luis Helguera, nuevo director deportivo de la UD Las Palmas, udlaspalmas.es/, 2 March 2020
  14. "El exzaragocista Luis Helguera apuesta por su hermano Iván" [Former zaragocista Luis Helguera bets on brother Iván]. El Periódico de Aragón (in Spanish). 16 March 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
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