Felipe Vega-Arango
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Gijón, Spain[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Solomon Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Solomon Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Papua New Guinea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso is a Spanish football coach who first managed the Solomon Islands national football team in 2017 and was re-appointed as coach in June 2021.
Solomon Islands
Assuming the post of technical director for the Solomon Islands Football Federation in March 2017[2] after sending his CV to various football associations around the world,[3] Vega-Arango coevally held the position of coach for the country's national selection also, winning his first game in charge with a 3–2 victory over Papua New Guinea in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying phases.[4] This was followed by another 2–1 triumph over the same opposition.[5]
Before their Oceania Football Confederation decider match versus New Zealand[6] for entry into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he stated that his charges were ready for the round,[7] only to lose to the All Whites 6–1.[8] Despite saying that the chances of a win by a five-goal margin in the next leg were low,[8] Vega-Arango maintained that his ambition was to win the second round.[9] In the end, he led them to a 2–2 draw.
Arango was re-appointed as Head Coach of the Solomon Islands national football team in June 2021.[10]
Personal life
Vega-Arango is the son of Manuel Vega-Arango, the former president of Spanish team Sporting de Gijón.[3]
Honours
Manager
Solomon Islands
- Pacific Games: Silver Medalist, 2023[11][12]
- Pacific Mini Games: Bronze Medalist, 2017[13][14]
- MSG Prime Minister's Cup: 2023[15][16]
References
- 1 2 "Felipe Vera-Arango". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ↑ España, La Nueva (7 March 2017). "Felipe Vega-Arango, director técnico de Islas Salomón".
- 1 2 "Clasificación Mundial 2018: Felipe Vega-Arango, el 'Rey Salomón' del fútbol - Marca.com". 15 June 2017.
- ↑ "Selecciones: Felipe Vega-Arango debuta con victoria con Islas Salomón". migrantesdelbalon.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ↑ "SI coach: Team deserved win - Loop PNG". 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ↑ "El español Felipe Vega Arango lleva a Islas Salomón a la final de Oceanía". 13 June 2017.
- ↑ Admin (2017-07-30). "'We're ready': Vera-Arango says Bonitos up for All Whites challenge | SIBC". Sibconline.com.sb. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
- 1 2 "Sport: Solomons coach laments New Zealand mismatch". 4 September 2017.
- ↑ "We're going for the win: Vega Arango - SIBC". Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ↑ "Solomon Islands appoint new coach". 23 June 2021.
- ↑ Solomon Islands Football Federation. "SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ ABC News. "New Caledonia clinches men's football gold after tense penalty shootout against Solomon Islands". Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Soccer named squad for mini games". The Island Sun. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ OFC. "Golden Games for Vanuatu". Retrieved April 19, 2026.
- ↑ Solomon Islands Football Federation. "MSG Squad Name". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ↑ Sports Media. "Champions Solomon Islands Return Home with MSG Cup 2023". Retrieved July 13, 2025.