Patxi Salinas
Athletic Bilbao double winner and durable defender
Francisco 'Patxi' Salinas Fernández (born 17 November 1963) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager. He amassed La Liga totals of 432 games and 11 goals over 16 seasons, with Athletic Bilbao and Celta, winning two national championships with the former club. Subsequently, he worked as a manager.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Francisco Salinas Fernández
- Born
- 17 November 1963
- Birthplace
- Bilbao, Spain
- Height
- 1.88 m / 6 ft 2 in
- Position
- Centre-back
- Total caps
- 501
- Total goals
- 17
Lore & Background
Born in Bilbao, Salinas emerged through Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks, and made his league debut on 10 November 1982, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Salamanca. He appeared in 14 La Liga matches in the 1983–84 season as the team managed to conquer the double. In the following campaign, he became a regular fixture with the Basques alongside fellow Lezama youth graduate Genar Andrinúa. In summer 1992, Salinas joined Celta de Vigo, where he proceeded to post equally impressive numbers in his six-season spell – always in the top division – retiring from the game at almost 35. Over a one-month span, Salinas earned two caps for Spain, both in friendlies. His debut was on 14 September 1988 in a 2–1 loss to Yugoslavia, in Oviedo. After retiring as a player, Salinas had brief stints as coach of Celta's youth teams and Gramenet, also working with Rápido de Bouzas in directorial capacities. As a manager, in quick succession, he was in charge of Athletic's youth teams, Ourense, Melita (Maltese Premier League) and Sant Andreu. Salinas achieved promotion to Segunda División B with Rápido in June 2017. One month later, after announcing weeks before he would leave the Galician side, he agreed terms with Burgos. He was dismissed on 5 February 2018, leaving them in ninth position and having conceded the fewest goals in the division. On 22 May 2018, Salinas was appointed manager of Badajoz. In June of the following year, he signed in the same capacity with Basconia, Athletic Bilbao's farm team; his former teammate Rafael Alkorta was now director of football at the parent club. In December 2021, he moved up to become coach of the reserves following the sacking of Imanol de la Sota.
Reader's Guide
Salinas won two national championships with Athletic Bilbao: the 1983–84 La Liga and the 1983–84 Copa del Rey. He also won the 1984 Supercopa de España with Athletic Bilbao. With Celta, he was a Copa del Rey runner-up in 1993–94. He was a runner-up with Spain Under-21 at the 1984 UEFA Under-21 European Championship.
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