Nino Lema

Benigno 'Nino' Lema Mejuto (born 12 September 1964) is a Spanish retired football right-back and manager.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lema and the second or maternal family name is Mejuto.

Nino Lema
Personal information
Full name Benigno Lema Mejuto
Date of birth (1964-09-12) 12 September 1964
Place of birth Vigo, Spain
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
1972–1984 Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1988 Celta 64 (1)
1984–1985 → Arosa (loan) 29 (0)
1987–1989 Mallorca 3 (0)
1988–1989 → Tenerife (loan) 35 (1)
1989–1990 Español 29 (0)
1990–1996 Rayo Vallecano 148 (0)
Total 308 (2)
Managerial career
1998–1999 Torrellano
1999–2002 Santa Pola
2004–2006 Ciempozuelos
2006–2007 Pego
2007 Jove Español
2007–2008 Dénia
2008 Alicante
2009–2012 Dénia
2012–2013 Orihuela
2013–2014 Ontinyent
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Vigo, Province of Pontevedra, Lema played since the age of 8 with local giants RC Celta de Vigo. He made his La Liga debut on 31 August 1985 in a 1–1 away draw against Real Sociedad, and finished his debut season with 27 games and one goal as the Galicians suffered relegation with only 14 points; during his contract, he also served a loan in the lower leagues with Arosa SC.[1]

Lema left Celta in June 1987 after winning promotion,[1] and played in both the top tier and the Segunda División for the remainder of his career, representing RCD Mallorca, CD Tenerife, RCD Español and Rayo Vallecano. He totalled 279 matches across both major levels of Spanish football over 11 seasons, and achieved five promotions.[2]

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Lema settled in Alicante and worked with amateur teams in the Valencian Community, his first appointment being with Torrellano CF. In his beginnings, he also worked as a radio commentator in local matches.

In 2007–08, Lema signed for what would be his main club the following years, CD Dénia, leading it through its first season ever in the Segunda División B and helping to a 12th-place finish.[3] Subsequently, he moved to the professionals with Alicante CF (division two), but would only be in charge of the team for five games as one of four managers during the 2008–09 campaign, which ended in relegation.[4]

Returned to Dénia in summer 2009, Lema led the side to the fifth position in the first year in his second spell, just five points shy of the promotion playoffs. At the end of the 2011–12 season he decided to leave after their relegation, even though permanence was achieved on the pitch.[5][6]

Lema was appointed at Orihuela CF on 24 October 2012, following the dismissal of Sergio Inclán.[7]

References
  1. "Benigno Lema" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  2. "Nino Lema: "Jugué seis temporadas en Segunda A y logré cinco ascensos a Primera División"" [Nino Lema: "I played six seasons in Segunda A and won five promotions to the First Division"] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  3. Ivars, Guillem (13 May 2008). "El técnico Nino Lema deja el Dénia tras lograr la permanencia" [Manager Nino Lema leaves Dénia after achieving survival]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  4. Victoria, Víctor M. (9 December 2008). "«Si lo sé, no ficho por el Alicante»" ["If i only knew it, i don't sign for Alicante"]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  5. Zamora, Javier (14 February 2012). "Nino Lema: «Estamos a cinco partidos de cumplir el objetivo de la permanencia»" [Nino Lema: "We are five matches away from meeting goal of survival"]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  6. Ruiz de Esquide, Fernando (3 July 2012). "El Palencia desciende por impagos junto a Badajoz, Denia, Puertollano y Ceuta" [Palencia relegated due to unpaid wages alongside Badajoz, Denia, Puertollano and Ceuta]. El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  7. Zerón, Jesús (24 October 2012). "Nino Lema llega al rescate del Orihuela" [Nino Lema comes to the rescue of Orihuela]. Diario Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 October 2012.
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