Alfredo Santaelena Aguado (born 13 October 1967), known simply as Alfredo as a player, is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder, currently a manager.
He amassed La Liga totals of 211 games and seven goals over 11 seasons, representing in the competition Atlético Madrid, Deportivo and Sevilla. 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.[1][2]
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.[6] He left for Sevilla FC two years later, being rarely used over a three-and-a-half-year spell and finishing his career at nearly 36, with his first and second clubs.[1]
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.[7][1]
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.[8]
In November 2016, Santaelena took over UD San Sebastián de los Reyes also in the third tier. He was dismissed on 21 January 2018,[9] and spent more than a year without a club before being appointed at Internacional de Madrid of the same league on 2 July 2020.[10]