Sebastián Méndez
Encyclopedia
Sebastián Ariel Méndez Pardiñas (born 4 July 1977) is an Argentine
football manager
and former player. He currently manages Banfield
.
As a player, Méndez was a central defender. He won Argentine League championships with all three clubs he represented in his country, and also spent almost five years in Spain
.
, Méndez started his career with Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
. He made his official debut in first division on July 24, 1994 against Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
, aged only 17. During his time with Vélez the club had the most sustained period of success in its history, collecting three leagues and other five international tournaments, with the player being an undisputed starter during his last six years.
In January 2002, Méndez moved to Spain
to play for Celta de Vigo
, during the Galician club's heyday. In his four 1/2-year spell, he rarely started (tops 16 matches, in 2004–05, with the club in the second level
), but did amass nearly 75 official appearances.
In 2006, Méndez returned to his country, signing with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, and helped it to the 2007 Clausura tournament, his fourth league title. Nevertheless, during 2008 he took part in only a few matches, mostly because of constant injuries and ejections
. Afterwards, he was transferred to Club Atlético Banfield
for the 2009–10 season, and was a key member of the squad that won the 2009 Apertura, appearing in all 19 matches.
On 13 December 2009, the squad celebrated its first ever top division accolade. Shortly after, Méndez announced his retirement from football, at the age of 32.
, following Diego Simeone's dismissal. On December 21, 2010, he landed his first job as a full time manager in another of his former clubs: Banfield, where he replaced Julio César Falcioni
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
and former player. He currently manages Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
.
As a player, Méndez was a central defender. He won Argentine League championships with all three clubs he represented in his country, and also spent almost five years in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Club career
A native of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Méndez started his career with Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
. He made his official debut in first division on July 24, 1994 against Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
Club Deportivo Español is a sports club from the south-west of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera C Metropolitana, one of the fourth tier divisions of Argentine football.The club was founded in 1956 with the name Club Deportivo Español on October, 12...
, aged only 17. During his time with Vélez the club had the most sustained period of success in its history, collecting three leagues and other five international tournaments, with the player being an undisputed starter during his last six years.
In January 2002, Méndez moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to play for Celta de Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
, during the Galician club's heyday. In his four 1/2-year spell, he rarely started (tops 16 matches, in 2004–05, with the club in the second level
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
), but did amass nearly 75 official appearances.
In 2006, Méndez returned to his country, signing with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, and helped it to the 2007 Clausura tournament, his fourth league title. Nevertheless, during 2008 he took part in only a few matches, mostly because of constant injuries and ejections
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
. Afterwards, he was transferred to Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
for the 2009–10 season, and was a key member of the squad that won the 2009 Apertura, appearing in all 19 matches.
On 13 December 2009, the squad celebrated its first ever top division accolade. Shortly after, Méndez announced his retirement from football, at the age of 32.
Coaching career
On April 4, 2010, Méndez returned to San Lorenzo, now as a caretaker managerCaretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
, following Diego Simeone's dismissal. On December 21, 2010, he landed his first job as a full time manager in another of his former clubs: Banfield, where he replaced Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni
Julio César Falcioni is an Argentine football manager and former goalkeeper. He currently works as the manager of Boca Juniors in Argentina.-Club career:...
.
Honours
- Vélez:
- Argentine League: Apertura 1995, Clausura 1996, Clausura 1998
- Libertadores Cup: 1994
- Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 1994 - Interamerican CupCopa InteramericanaCopa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
: 1995 - South American CupCopa SudamericanaThe Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
: 1996 - South American SupercupRecopa SudamericanaThe Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football match-up between the reigning champions of the previous year's Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, South America's premier club competitions....
: 1997
- San Lorenzo:
- Argentine League: Clausura 2007
- Banfield:
- Argentine League: Apertura 2009