The late figure stood as a towering presence in Galician football, both as a player and as a mentor. His career epitomized a generation of devotion to Deportivo de La Coruña, culminating in a Copa del Rey triumph and a memorable near-minish in the league standings. He left behind a legacy that intertwined the club’s rise with his steady hand on the touchline.
Arsenio Iglesias, a legend of Deportivo de La Coruña and a former coach of Real Madrid, passed away this morning at the age of 92. He played a pivotal role in lifting the blue and white club to the apex of Spanish football, guiding them to the Copa del Rey title in 1995 and helping the team secure a strong second-place finish in La Liga. His impact extended far beyond the trophy room, shaping a culture of resilience and tactical pragmatism that influenced generations of players and coaches.
During his long association with Deportivo, Iglesias was the coach who directed the first team in the most official matches, a total of 568. The club reflects on his career across its various chapters and milestones, highlighting a life spent in service to the team and its supporters:
- 1950-51 Fabril and CD Juvenil player
- 1967-1968 Coach of Fabril (3rd in Terceira)
- 1984-85 Coach First Team (13th in Second Division) … 1987–88 Coach of the first team since February 1988 (16th in the Second Division) 1988–89 First Team Coach (10th in Second Division) 1989-1990 First Team Coach (4th in Second Division) 1990-1991 First Team Coach (2nd in Second Division and PROMOTION)
- 1995-1996; He also solidified his reputation by guiding a heavyweight like Madrid, whom he coached in 1996 after taking over from Jorge Valdano.
1951-52 CD Juvenil player and Deportivo player (23 matches and 8 goals – 11th in First Division)
1952-53 Deportivo player (16 matches and 1 goal – 14th in First Division)
1953-54 Deportivo player (19 matches and 3 goals – 7th in First Division)
1954–55 Deportivo player (29 matches and 7 goals – 7th in First Division)
1955-56 Deportivo player (30 matches and 7 goals – 12th in First Division)
1956–57 Deportivo player (24 matches and 8 goals – 15th in First Division and relegation)
1968-1969 Coach of Fabril (9th in Terceira)
1969 -70 Coach of Fabril (11th in Terceira)
1970-71 Factory Coach (2nd in Preferential) and First Team Coach (3rd in Second and PROMOTION)
1971–72 First team coach (14th in First Division)
1972–73 First team coach (17th in First Division)
1982–83 Coach First team (4th in Second)
1983–84 First team coach (9th in Second Division)
1991–92 Adviser to the President and coach of the first team since April 1992 (17th in the Premier League)
1992–93 First team coach (3rd in the Premier League)
1993–94 First team coach (2nd in the Premier League)
1994-1995 Coach of the first team (2nd in the First Division and CHAMPION OF THE COPA DEL REY)
His journey through the ranks of Deportivo reflected a career built on adaptability, persistence, and a genuine feel for the club’s heartbeat. Iglesias’s teams were known for their commitment, a certain Galician grit, and a belief in competing with heart as much as with tactical discipline. The trajectory from youth levels to the top flight, and then to the domestic cup crown, showcases a mentor who understood every rung of the ladder and spoke to players with clarity and respect. His influence extended to Real Madrid as well, where his work in 1996 earned him a place in the annals of the club for guiding a storied team through strategic decisions and motivational leadership.
Source: Goal