Luis Helguera

Luis Helguera

Personal information
Full name	Luis Helguera Bujía
Date of birth	(1976-06-09) 9 June 1976
Place of birth	Ferrol, Spain
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1997	Manchego	72	(3)
1997–1999	Zaragoza B	64	(3)
1998–2000	Zaragoza	20	(0)
2000–2003	Udinese	54	(1)
2002–2003	→ Alavés (loan)	22	(0)
2003–2005	Fiorentina	10	(0)
2004	→ Ancona (loan)	13	(0)
2005–2008	Vicenza	109	(0)
2008–2013	Huesca	185	(8)
Total		440	(15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Helguera and the second or maternal family name is Bujía.

Luis Helguera Bujía (born 9 June 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a midfielder.

He is the younger brother of former Real Madrid, Valencia and Spain defender Iván Helguera whom, like him, played abroad in Italy.

Football career

Helguera was born in Ferrol, Galicia. After beginning with lowly Club Deportivo Manchego he moved to La Liga with Real Zaragoza, where he appeared sporadically during three seasons (his most games being 16 in 1999–2000, as the Aragon team finished fourth).

After his older brother, Iván, had played one season at A.S. Roma, Helguera also moved to Italy, representing Udinese Calcio for two years with a Deportivo Alavés loan in between. Also in that country he competed a further six campaigns, mostly in Serie B, returning in 2008 to his homeland to sign with a second division newcomer, SD Huesca.

Helguera rarely missed a game for the club during his spell, helping it consecutively retain its status. In 2010–11 he also collected a season-worse 20 yellow cards, in 37 matches; he retired in June 2013 at the age of 37 following the team's relegation, amassing second level totals of 185 games and eight goals over the course of five seasons.

External links

• Luis Helguera profile at BDFutbol
• Stats at Tutto Calciatori (Italian)
• Luis Helguera at Soccerway

• Alavés opt for Helguera; UEFA.com, 27 July 2002