Alexander Medina
Personal information
Full name Alexander Jesús Medina Reobasco
Date of birth (1978-08-08) 8 August 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Salto, Uruguay
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Granada (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Ferrocarril de Salto
1996–1998 Fritsa de Tacuarembó
1998–1999 Huracán Buceo 7 (0)
2000–2001 Central Español 27 (7)
2002–2003 Liverpool Montevideo 31 (22)
2004–2005 Nacional 63 (46)
2005–2007 Cádiz 47 (6)
2007–2008 Racing Ferrol 30 (2)
2008–2009 Nacional 20 (6)
2009 Arsenal de Sarandí 13 (0)
2010 Unión Española 22 (5)
2011 River Plate Montevideo 8 (4)
2011–2014 Nacional 37 (13)
2014–2015 Fenix 37 (3)
International career
2006 Uruguay 1 (0)
Managerial career
2016–2017 Nacional (youth)
2018 Nacional
2019–2021 Talleres
2022 Internacional
2022–2023 Vélez Sarsfield
2023– Granada
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Jesús Medina Reobasco (born 8 August 1978) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the current manager of Spanish club Granada.

Medina is often nicknamed Cacique (Chief) due to his command inside the field during his playing career.[1]

Playing career

Club

Born in Salto, Medina began his career with local side Ferrocarril de Salto. After representing Fritsa de Tacuarembó, he made his professional debuts with Huracán Buceo in 1998.

Medina subsequently represented Central Español and Liverpool Montevideo, finishing the 2003 season as the top scorer. He moved to Nacional for the 2004 season, and was again the league's top scorer with 26 goals.[2]

In August 2005, Medina moved abroad and joined La Liga side Cádiz CF.[3] He featured sparingly in his first season, as his side suffered relegation, and appeared more regularly in his second, as the club narrowly missed out promotion.

On 31 August 2007, Medina signed for Racing de Ferrol also in the Spanish second tier.[4] A first-choice, he only scored three goals as the Galicians suffered relegation.

Medina returned to his home country and Nacional in June 2008, but left the club in August of the following year to sign for Arsenal de Sarandí.[5] He switched teams and countries again in January 2010, after agreeing to a deal with Unión Española,[6] but returned to his home country for the 2011 with River Plate Montevideo.

In 2011, Medina returned to Nacional for a third spell.[7] Initially a starter, he fell down the pecking order during the 2013 season, and moved to Fenix in August 2014.[8] He retired in the following year, aged 37.

International

Medina made his full international debut for Uruguay on 1 March 2006, coming on as a late substitute for Diego Forlán in a 1–2 friendly match against England.[9]

Managerial career

Nacional

In July 2016, Medina returned to his former club Nacional, as a manager of the youth setup.[10] On 12 December of the following year, he was named manager of the first team in the place of Martín Lasarte.[11]

Medina led Nacional to the Championship play-off in his first season, but lost to eventual champions Peñarol. On 7 December 2018, he resigned.[12]

Talleres

On 6 June 2019, Medina replaced departing Juan Pablo Vojvoda at the helm of Talleres de Córdoba in the Argentine top tier.[13] In his first season, he qualified the club to the Copa Sudamericana, and led the side to an impressive third place finish in the 2021 campaign; he also reached the Final of the 2019–20 Copa Argentina, but lost on penalties to Boca Juniors.

On 23 December 2021, Medina left Talleres as his contract was due to expire.[14]

Internacional

On 27 December 2021, Medina was appointed manager of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Internacional on a one-year contract.[15] He was sacked the following 15 April, after a 1–1 draw with Paraguayan side Guaireña.[16]

Vélez Sarsfield

On 24 May 2022, Medina agreed to become the manager of Vélez Sarsfield, returning to Argentina after nearly six months.[17] He left the club on a mutual agreement the following 26 February.[18]

Granada

On 27 November 2023, Medina replaced Paco López at the helm of La Liga side Granada.[19]

Managerial statistics

As of 11 February 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat. From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Nacional Uruguay 12 December 2017 7 December 2018 54 32 12 10 86 47 +39 059.26 [20]
Talleres Argentina 6 June 2019 23 December 2021 88 39 26 23 123 94 +29 044.32 [21]
Internacional Brazil 27 December 2021 15 April 2022 17 6 6 5 17 20 −3 035.29
Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 24 May 2022 26 February 2023 40 11 13 16 42 48 −6 027.50
Granada Spain 27 November 2023 present 10 1 3 6 7 15 −8 010.00
Career total 209 89 60 60 275 224 +51 042.58 —

Honours

Player

Nacional

References

  1. ^ "Por que o apelido do novo técnico do Inter é 'Cacique'?" [Why the nickname of the new manager of Inter is 'Chief'?] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  2. ^ "EL BAÚL DE LOS RECUERDOS: EL CACIQUE MEDINA" [THE BURDEN OF MEMORIES: THE CHIEF MEDINA] (in Spanish). ForoBolso.uy. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  3. ^ "El Cádiz ha fichado a diez jugadores para no sufrir" [Cádiz signed ten players to not suffer] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 11 August 2005. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  4. ^ "El Cacique Medina ya es jugador racinguista" [The Chief Medina is already a racinguista] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Uruguayan Striker Alexander Medina Joins Arsenal de Sarandi From Nacional". Goal. 21 August 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Unión Española confirma fichaje de refuerzo uruguayo" [Unión Española confirm the signing of Uruguayan addition] (in Spanish). La Tercera. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Nacional: definen, Farías o Boghossian" [Nacional: define, Farías or Boghossian] (in Spanish). Tenfield. 8 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Fénix: «Cacique» de Capurro" [Fénix: Capurro's "Chief"] (in Spanish). Tenfield. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  9. ^ "England 2–1 Uruguay". BBC Sport. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Exclusivo: Medina de regreso" [Exclusive: Medina returning] (in Spanish). Tenfield. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  11. ^ "El exfutbolista Alexander 'Cacique' Medina, nuevo entrenador del Nacional" [Former footballer Alexander 'Chief' Medina, new manager of Nacional] (in Spanish). EFE. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Alexander Medina renunció a Nacional" [Alexander Medina resigned from Nacional] (in Spanish). ESPN. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Alexander Medina, nuevo DT de Talleres" [Alexander Medina, new manager of Talleres] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Cacique Medina dejó Talleres: ¿va a San Lorenzo o al Inter?" [Cacique Medina left Talleres: will he go to San Lorenzo or Inter?] (in Spanish). Olé. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Alexander Medina assume o comando técnico do Inter" [Alexander Medina takes over Inter] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Internacional. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Alexander Medina deixa o comando técnico do Inter" [Alexander Medina leaves Inter] (in Brazilian Portuguese). SC Internacional. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Vélez tiene entrenador: Alexander Medina acordó su llegada" [Vélez have a manager: Alexander Medina agreed to his arrival] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 24 May 2022.
  18. ^ "El Cacique Medina dejó de ser el técnico de Vélez" [Cacique Medina left as manager of Vélez] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Alexander Medina, nuevo entrenador del Granada CF" [Official announcement | Alexander Medina, new manager of Granada CF] (in Spanish). Granada CF. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Confira os números da carreira de Alexander Medina, técnico anunciado pelo Internacional" [Know the numbers of the career of Alexander Medina, manager announced by Internacional] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Los números de Alexander Medina en Talleres" [The numbers of Chief Medina in Talleres] (in Spanish). 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.

External links

Granada CF – current squad
Current La Liga managers
Uruguayan Primera DivisiĂłn top scorers
Alexander Medina managerial positions
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