Alfredo Santaelena Aguado (born 13 October 1967), known simply as Alfredo as a player, is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He is the manager of Tercera Federación club Toledo.

He amassed La Liga totals of 211 games and seven goals over 11 seasons, representing Atlético Madrid, Deportivo and Sevilla in the competition. In 2003, he started working as a coach.

Playing career Born in Madrid, Alfredo's career professional career began with hometown's Getafe CF in 1988, and he moved the following year to La Liga with neighbours Atlético Madrid; he was personally signed by chairman Jesús Gil after a friendly, going on to experience some of his best years whilst with the team.Alfredo Santaelena, 23 años de su fichaje (Alfredo Santaelena, 23rd anniversary of his signature); Vavel, 10 July 2016 (in Spanish)La divertida anécdota de cómo Gil fichó a Alfredo Santaelena (The funny anecdote of how Gil signed Alfredo Santaelena); Mundo Deportivo, 12 October 2019 (in Spanish)

On 29 June 1991, Alfredo scored the game's only goal against RCD Mallorca in the final of the Copa del Rey,Fiesta rojiblanca en el Bernabéu (Red-and-white party at the Bernabéu); Mundo Deportivo, 30 June 1991 (in Spanish)Alfredo Santaelena recuerda su gol que valió la Copa del 91 en el Bernabéu (Alfredo Santaelena recalls his goal that gave the 91 Cup at the Bernabéu); Mundo Deportivo, 5 May 2020 (in Spanish) also appearing in the following year's decisive match, a 2–0 win over Real Madrid.Futre y Schuster llevan al Atlético hasta el éxtasis (Futre and Schuster bring Atlético to ecstasy); Mundo Deportivo, 28 June 1992 (in Spanish) He joined Deportivo de La Coruña in 1993 alongside teammate Donato, and produced roughly the same numbers, although he would be used more regularly.

Brought from the bench in the 1995 domestic cup final against Valencia CF, diminutive Alfredo scored with his head for the final 2–1 victory.Supertítulo (Supertitle); Mundo Deportivo, 28 June 1995 (in Spanish) He left for Sevilla FC two years later, being rarely used over a three-and-a-half-year spell and finishing his career aged 35, with his first and second clubs.

Coaching career Santaelena took up coaching immediately after retiring, mainly in the lower leagues. In 2007, he led CD Cobeña – also in Madrid – to Segunda División B for the first time ever, but the club folded soon after.Cuando el fútbol era una parte más del negocio (When football was just another part of the business); Madrilánea, 22 November 2012 (in Spanish)

Starting in 2012, Santaelena spent several years in charge of Atlético's reserve teams. On 10 February 2014, following a third-division loss at CD Sariñena which left the B side in the relegation zone, he was fired, being replaced by Oscar Mena who had also played for them in the 90s.Mena releva a Alfredo en el banquillo del Atlético B (Mena relieves Alfredo in Atlético B bench); Marca, 10 February 2014 (in Spanish)

In November 2016, Santaelena took over UD San Sebastián de los Reyes also in the third tier. He was dismissed on 21 January 2018, and spent more than a year without a club before being appointed at Internacional de Madrid of the same league on 2 July 2020.

Santaelena continued to work in the third division (renamed Primera División RFEF in 2021) in the following years, being in charge of CF Rayo Majadahonda and San Fernando CD. On 29 April 2024, he was sacked by the latter as they were seriously threatened with relegation, and in July he dropped down two levels after taking over Tercera Federación's CD Toledo.

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Tres Cantos Pegaso1 July 200330 June 2006Cobeña1 July 200630 June 2007Ciempozuelos1 July 200730 June 2008Eivissa-Ibiza12 January 200930 June 2009Marbella18 January 20106 July 2010Alcobendas Sport6 July 201030 June 2011Atlético Madrid C1 July 201130 June 2012Atlético Madrid B1 July 201210 February 2014SS Reyes17 November 201621 January 2018Alcobendas Sport16 January 20202 July 2020Internacional Madrid2 July 202030 June 2022Rayo Majadahonda 4 October 202211 June 2023San Fernando16 October 202329 April 2024Toledo28 June 2024Present Career total—

Honours Atlético Madrid Copa del Rey: 1990–91, 1991–92

Deportivo Copa del Rey: 1994–95 Supercopa de España: 1995Spain – List of Super Cup Finals; at RSSSF

References

External links