Fernando Santiago Varela

Fernando Santiago Varela
	Santiago Varela at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Oman
Personal information
Full name	Fernando Andrés Santiago Varela
Date of birth	4 June 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Mar del Plata, Argentina
Managerial career
Years	Team
2011–2012	Tecnofútbol (youth)
2012–2017	Tecnofútbol
2018	Gokulam Kerala
2019–2020	Gokulam Kerala
2020–2021	Churchill Brothers
2021–2022	Sreenidi Deccan
2022–2023	Churchill Brothers
2023	Bengaluru United

Fernando Andrés Santiago Varela (born 4 June 1973) is an Argentine-born Spanish football coach.^[1]

Coaching career

Fernando Varela is a UEFA Pro Licence holder.^[2]^[3] before joining Gokulam.^[4] He is the author of the book Futbol Inteligente.^[5] In 2018 he was appointed as the head coach of Indian club Gokulam Kerala and won the Kerala Premier League, as well as Durand Cup season later.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12] On 16 June 2020, he left Gokulam due to salary issues and the I-League performance.^[13]^[14]

Churchill Brothers

After his successful spell with Gokulam Kerala, he moved to another I-League side Churchill Brothers in September 2020.^[15] Under his guidance, Churchill emerged as the runners-up of the 2020–21 I-League with 29 points.^[16]^[17]^[18] Although Churchill winning against Punjab, Gokulam Kerala were crowned champions courtesy of a better head-to-head record.

Sreenidi Deccan

In 20 April 2021, Varela was appointed as the head coach of Sreenidi Deccan, one of the new I-League entrants.^[19]^[20]

Bengaluru United

On 13 March 2023, it was officially announced that he was appointed as the head coach of FC Bengaluru United.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]

Statistics

As of January 2025

Team	From	To	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %
Gokulam Kerala	1 June 2019	16 June 2020	20	11	4	5	055.00
Churchill Brothers	23 September 2020	27 March 2021	15	8	5	2	053.33
Sreenidi Deccan	20 April 2021	13 June 2022	18	9	5	4	050.00
Churchill Brothers	December 2022	February 2023	6	2	3	1	033.33
Bengaluru United	February 2023	August 2023	19	12	3	4	063.16
Total			71	37	19	15	052.11

Honours

Gokulam Kerala

Churchill Brothers

I-League runners-up: 2020–21

FC Bengaluru United

Stafford Challenge Cup: 2023^[26]

References

^ Sarkar, Sattyik (20 December 2021). "All you need to know about I-League debutants Sreenidi Deccan FC". khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
^ Olé (5 May 2020). "El argentino que triunfa en India". www.ole.com.ar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
^ "P.B. Vallirana-Fitxa Partit". Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^ "Gokulam Kerala FC's Spanish coach Fernando Santiago Valera leaving no stone unturned for future". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Fútbol Inteligente". Librerías Gandhi (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^ "Gokulam Kerala FC sack head coach Valera - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ നായര്‍, അനീഷ് പി. "പന്തെടുക്കാന്‍ പറയുന്നതുവരെ ആംഗ്യഭാഷയില്‍;ഒടുവില്‍ വലേര ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് പഠിച്ചു, ഗോകുലം കളിയും". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Men's Team". Gokulam Kerala FC. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ Chakravarti, Neelav (24 August 2019). "Durand Cup Final, Mohun Bagan Vs Gokulam Kerala, Highlights: Marcus Joseph Brace Helps GKFC Win Title". OutlookIndia.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
^ "Durand final will be a 'battle of nerves': Santiago Varela | Hero I-League". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
^ "THE fans can always be proud of us". Gokulam Kerala FC. 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Pleno español en el fútbol de la India". AS.com (in Spanish). 20 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
^ "Gokulam Kerala and head coach Varela part ways". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
^ "ഗോകുലം കോച്ച് വരേല പുറത്ത്". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
^ Joshi, Rutvij (24 September 2020). "Fernando Santiago Varela appointed new Churchill Brothers head coach". khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
^ "I-League: Churchill Brothers survives late Gokulam Kerala scare to extend lead atop". Sportstar.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
^ "I-League 2021: Gokulam Kerala, TRAU and Churchill in race for title; three front-runners for season's top-scorer". Firstpost.com. 23 March 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
^ "I-League: Churchill Brothers Beat Punjab FC 3-2, But Lose Title Race". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
^ "I-League debutants Sreenidhi FC set to appoint Fernando Varela as head coach". Goal.com. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
^ "Fernando Varela appointed as head coach". Twitter. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
^ "FC Bengaluru United part ways with Khalid Jamil; announce Fernando Varela as new coach". thebridge.in. The Bridge News Desk. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
^ "FC Bengaluru United announce Fernando Varela as Head Coach, after parting ways with Khalid Jamil". footballcounter.com. Bengaluru: Football Counter. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
^ "আর্জেন্টাইন কোচ ছাঁটাই, বেঙ্গালুরুর ক্লাবে হেডস্যার হয়ে ফিরছেন শঙ্করলাল" [Argentine coach sacked, Sankarlal is back as heqd coach, this time with Bengaluru United]. thewall.in (in Bengali). Kolkata: The Wall Bureau News. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^ "BDFA Men's Super Division League 2023–24 | South United FC 3–3 FC Bengaluru United (9 November 2023)". the-aiff.com. Bengaluru: All India Football Federation. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^ "Gokulam Kerala creates history, wins Durand Cup". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
^ "Stafford Cup 2023: FC Bengaluru United become champions- Highlights". thebridge.in. The Bridge. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.