Quique Setién
El Maestro who orchestrated Betis's Europa League return
Enrique "Quique" Setién Solar (born 27 September 1958) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is currently a manager. As a player, he was nicknamed El Maestro, and was best known for his two spells with Racing de Santander, starting and finishing his 19-year professional career at the club. Over 15 seasons in La Liga, he played 374 matches and scored 58 goals. He also won three international caps for Spain. Setién started a managerial career in 2001, going on to coach several teams including Racing. Starting in January 2020, he was in charge of Barcelona for seven months, being dismissed following an 8–2 loss against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
- Role
- Head Coach
- Affiliation
- Real Betis Balompié
- Tenure Start
- 2017
- Tenure End
- 2019
- Major Achievement
- UEFA Europa League Qualification (2017-18)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Setién was voted by Racing's fans as their best player of all time in 2001. He appeared in almost 600 official matches in nearly two decades of play, totalling 95 league goals. He is a keen chess player with a FIDE rating of 1965, and played matches against former world champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov.
In Their Own Story
The roar of Benito Villamarín was deafening as the ball circled the opposition's box one last time. Setién stood on the touchline, hands clasped behind his back, watching his philosophy unfold in real-time. It wasn't just a goal; it was the culmination of hundreds of passes, a collective will that had turned a struggling squad into a force of nature. As the referee blew the final whistle, sealing another victory in this unforgettable campaign, he knew this team had finally found its soul again.
Reader's Guide
Setién managed Real Betis from 26 May 2017 on a three-year deal, leading the team to sixth place in his first year and qualification for the UEFA Europa League group stage. He announced he would leave the Estadio Benito Villamarín on 19 May 2019.
Did You Know?
- Setién's son Laro is also a footballer and midfielder.
- His father-in-law José Antonio Lozano played in the Spanish second tier in the early 1960s.
- All three relatives represented Racing Santander.
- Setién speaks English and Italian in addition to Spanish.
- He mentioned chess as an influence on his football tactics, which prioritised possession and midfield domination.
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