Jorge Luis Bernal

Jorge Luis Bernal Caviedes (born 27 September 1952) is a Colombian football manager and former player who played as a forward.

Career Born in Ibagué, Bernal played amateur football in the 1960s, reaching the Tolima regional team in the end of the decade, but had to retire after a severe arm injury. He then created a club named Ariel Armel Arenas in his native neighborhood, and started his coaching career at the club.

Bernal subsequently worked at local side Club Deportivo San Simón before joining the youth setup of Deportes Tolima in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, he still managed San Simón while working at Tolima, but left the former in 1986 to work permanently for the latter; shortly after a trip to watch the 1986 FIFA World Cup, he was named manager of Tolima's first team. He then moved back to Deportes Tolima in 2001, now to work in the club's youth categories, before being appointed manager of the first team in 2005.

In 2007, Bernal was named manager of Cúcuta Deportivo, reaching the semifinals of the 2007 Copa Libertadores with the club and qualifying the club to the 2008 Copa Libertadores. He resigned in January 2008, and returned to Tolima before leaving in March.

In May 2008, Bernal replaced sacked Juan Carlos Bedoya at the helm of Once Caldas, but was sacked on 21 November after losing the 2008 Copa Colombia. The following 22 March, he took over Deportivo Pasto, but was sacked in November after again losing the cup and being relegated.

On 2 December 2009, Bernal was appointed in charge of Deportivo Cali, but was relieved of his duties the following 10 April after a poor start of the season. He subsequently returned to Pasto, but was fired at the end of the season after failing to achieve promotion.

On 17 December 2011, Bernal returned to Deportes Tolima after nearly six years, but was dismissed on 26 August. He took over Itagüí Ditaires on 8 January 2013, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2013 Copa Sudamericana before leaving in November as the club was licensed.

Bernal then returned to Pasto for the 2014 season, but was sacked and subsequently took over Águilas Pereira. Sacked by the latter after only two months in charge, he was named manager of Jaguares de Córdoba on 10 August 2015.

On 5 May 2016, Bernal was appointed manager of Alianza Petrolera, where he led the club to an impressive run during the 2016 campaign, but was sacked in October 2017 after a poor run of form. On 31 May 2018, he replaced Hernán Torres at the helm of Rionegro Águilas.

On 1 March 2019, Bernal left Águilas on a mutual consent, and took over Atlético Huila on 15 August. On 26 October, with the club nearing relegation, he was dismissed.

Bernal stayed more than a year without a club before joining Patriotas Boyacá in June 2021, after manager John Mario Ramírez was away on quarantine (and subsequently deceased) due to the COVID-19.

Honours Cooperamos Tolima Categoría Primera C: 1995