Nino Lema
Benigno 'Nino' Lema Mejuto (born 12 September 1964) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and a coach.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benigno Lema Mejuto | ||
| Date of birth | 12 September 1964 | ||
| Place of birth | Vigo, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position(s) | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | FC Barcelone (recruteur) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1972–1984 | Celta | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1988 | Celta | 64 | (1) |
| 1984–1985 | → Arosa (loan) | ||
| 1987–1988 | → Alcoyano (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 1988–1989 | Mallorca | 3 | (0) |
| 1988–1989 | → Tenerife (loan) | 35 | (1) |
| 1989–1990 | Español | 29 | (0) |
| 1990–1996 | Rayo Vallecano | 148 | (0) |
| Total | 296 | (2) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1998–1999 | Torrellano | ||
| 1999–2002 | Santa Pola | ||
| 2004–2006 | Ciempozuelos | ||
| 2006–2007 | Pego | ||
| 2007 | Jove Español | ||
| 2007–2008 | Dénia | ||
| 2008 | Alicante | ||
| 2009–2012 | Dénia | ||
| 2012–2013 | Orihuela | ||
| 2013–2014 | Ontinyent | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
Born in Vigo, Pontevedra, Lema played since the age of seven with local giants Celta de Vigo. He made his La Liga debut on 31 August 1985 in a 1–1 away draw against Real Sociedad, and finished his debut season with 27 games and one goal as the Galicians suffered relegation with only 14 points;[1] during his contract, he also played in the lower leagues with Arosa SC and CD Alcoyano, on loan.
Lema left Celta in June 1987 after winning promotion, and played in both the top and second divisions for the remainder of his career, representing RCD Mallorca, CD Tenerife, RCD Español and Rayo Vallecano. Both major levels of Spanish football combined he appeared in 279 matches over the course of 11 seasons, and achieved five promotions to the top level.[2]
Coaching career
After retiring as a player, Lema settled in Alicante and worked with amateur teams in the Valencian Community, his first appointment being with Torrellano CF. During his beginnings, he also worked as a radio commentator in local matches.
In 2007–08, Lema signed for what would be his main club in the following years, CD Dénia, leading it through its first season ever in the third level and helping to a 12th-place finish. Subsequently, he moved to the professionals with Alicante CF (division two), but would only be in charge of the team for five games as one of four managers during the 2008–09 campaign, which ended in relegation.[3]
Returned to Dénia in summer 2009, Lema led the side to the fifth position in the first year in his second spell, just five points shy of the promotion playoffs. At the end of the 2011–12 season he decided to leave after their relegation, even though the permanence was achieved on the pitch.
On 24 October 2012, Lema was appointed at Orihuela CF after the sacking of Sergio Inclán.[4]
References
- "Benigno Lema" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 16 August 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- "Nino Lema: "Jugué seis temporadas en Segunda A y logré cinco ascensos a Primera División"" [Nino Lema: "I played six seasons in Segunda A and won five promotions to the First Division"] (in Spanish). Golsmedia. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- "Si lo sé, no ficho por el Alicante" [If i only knew it, i don't sign for Alicante]. Diario Información (in Spanish). 9 December 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- "Nino Lema llega al rescate del Orihuela" [Nino Lema comes to the rescue of Orihuela]. Diario Información (in Spanish). 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
External links
- Nino Lema at BDFutbol
- Nino Lema manager profile at BDFutbol