Rafael Berges Martín (born 21 January 1971) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a left-back, currently a manager.

Playing career

Club

Born in Córdoba, Andalusia, Berges started playing for local Córdoba CF in the lower leagues. In the 1991–92 campaign he joined CD Tenerife, going on to spend two years in La Liga at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López.

Rafael Berges

Signing with RC Celta de Vigo in 1993, Berges went on to make nearly 200 overall appearances and score seven league goals for the Galicians. He took part in no games in his final two seasons, however, due to recurrent injuries.

Rafael Berges

At the end of 2001–02, aged 31, Berges retired with his first club Córdoba, now in the Segunda División. His second spell was cut short, again due to several physical problems.

Rafael Berges

International

Berges was first-choice for Spain at the 1992 Summer Olympics, as the nation won the gold medal on home soil. He scored twice, including in the 2–0 semi-final win over Ghana.

Coaching career

Berges took up coaching in 2005, starting with Córdoba CF B. Amongst other lowly sides, he would also manage UD Almería's reserves.

On 14 June 2012, Berges was named Córdoba's main squad head coach, replacing Rayo Vallecano-bound Paco Jémez. He was relieved of his duties on 7 April of the following year, with the team ranking ninth in the second division.

In the 2014–15 and 2016–17 campaigns, Berges was in charge of third-tier clubs Real Jaén and UD Logroñés, respectively. He went on to work in the Liga 1 (Indonesia), with PS Mitra Kukar and Badak Lampung FC.

Honours

Spain U23

Summer Olympic Games: 1992

References

External links

1971 births

Living people

Spanish men's footballers

Footballers from Córdoba, Spain

Men's association football defenders

La Liga players

Segunda División players

Segunda División B players

Córdoba CF players

CD Tenerife players

RC Celta de Vigo players

Spain men's under-21 international footballers

Spain men's under-23 international footballers

Footballers at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Olympic footballers for Spain

Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics

Olympic medalists in football

Olympic gold medalists for Spain

Spanish football managers

Segunda División managers

Segunda División B managers

Tercera División managers

Córdoba CF B managers

UD Almería B managers

Córdoba CF managers

Real Jaén managers

UD Logroñés managers

Badak Lampung F.C. managers

Spanish expatriate football managers

Expatriate football managers in Indonesia

Spanish expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia