Pedro Riesco Herrera

Pedro Riesco Herrera (born 25 October 1969) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a forward. After retirement, he worked as a youth coach and an agent, as well as having success in amateur seven-a-side football.

He amassed La Liga totals of 93 games and 12 goals during four seasons with Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo La Coruña, Real Valladolid and Albacete Balompié. He also played in the second and third tiers of Spanish football in the course of a 14-year professional career.

Playing career Getafe

Riesco was born in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and began his professional career with Madrilenian side Getafe.

Despite this defeat in the final match, Getafe ended the season as runners-up. Riesco's good form was attracting attention, and he moved on at the end of the season. coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Rafael García Cortés. Rayo ultimately lost the match at Vallecas 3–0. His full debut came a week later in a 1–1 away draw against Real Avilés Industrial, and he kept his place for the home fixture against Figueres on 23 September, which ended in the same scoreline. He made his top flight debut on 5 September 1992, against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium, in a match which Rayo lost 1–0. Their first home game was eight days later against Logroñés, which ended 2–1 in the hosts' favour. On 1 October, Riesco scored a brace in the 4–1 Copa del Rey third round first leg victory over Tudelano at Estadio Ciudad de Tudela; Rayo went on to win the tie 10–2.

Riesco opened his league account on 8 November with a goal just after half time against Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, although he couldn't prevent the hosts taking a 3–2 victory. Ultimately, that season was his best in the top flight, as he scored eight goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. and Atlético Madrid, and by the end of the season it was known that he was moving on. His final match for Rayo was a 2–2 home draw with Albacete Balompié on 13 June 1993.

On 28 September, Riesco made his European debut in the home second leg of the UEFA Cup first round tie against Aalborg BK of Denmark. Their opponents there were England's Aston Villa, and again Riesco started on the bench for the home first leg. Again, he was brought on with 13 minutes left, this time for Manjarín, with the scores at 0–0. Two minutes later, Dean Saunders gave Villa the lead, but Riesco scored his first Deportivo goal 3 minutes from time to ensure the match ended as a draw. The second leg at Villa Park, in which Riesco also made a late substitute appearance in place of Manjarín, ended 1–0 to the visitors and saw Depor progress once more.

Riesco scored again on 12 January, netting the only goal of the Copa del Rey round of 16 second leg against Real Oviedo at Estadio Carlos Tartiere, although as the first leg had ended 3–1 to Oviedo, Depor were still eliminated. He ended the season with three goals in 25 appearances, although 18 of those were from the bench, By November, it had been announced that Bulgarian Emil Kostadinov would also join from Porto in January, and Riesco told the Mundo Deportivo newspaper of his desire to leave the club. Among others, Santander (again), Real Betis, Español and Albacete Balompié were all reported to be interested in signing him.

He sat on the bench for the second leg of Depors UEFA Cup third round tie against Borussia Dortmund of Germany at Westfalenstadion on 6 December, but didn't play a single minute in that or any other competition.

At the third time of asking, a deal was finally agreed, and Riesco joined Real Valladolid on loan during the January transfer window. He made his Valladolid debut away to Logroñés on 8 January 1995, coming on for Mami Quevedo with 19 minutes to play in the 0–0 draw at Estadio Las Gaunas.

His home debut followed two days later in the second leg of Valladolid's Copa del Rey third round tie against Extremadura at Estadio José Zorrilla. He marked the occasion with a goal, which helped his team to a 2–1 victory and progress to the next round. His first league start came in the 2–0 home win over Sporting de Gijón on 29 January, and three days later he scored in another cup match at home to Toledo which ended in the same scoreline, although Valladolid were eliminated 3–2 on aggregate. He scored his only league goal for Valladolid came in a 2–0 home win over his potential employers, Compostela, on 19 February, and he ended the season with three goals in his 18 appearances. Riesco was not involved as Deportivo won a stunning return leg 8–0.

With opportunities still severely limited at Deportivo, Riesco went out on loan again in October, this time to Albacete Balompié until the end of the season.

Deportivo Alavés

After only 26 matches in three seasons, Riesco finally left Deportivo for good in the summer of 1996, signing for Deportivo Alavés in the Segunda División. coming off the bench for Bruno Alicarte after 66 minutes of the 3–1 defeat at Lluís Sitjar Stadium.

Riesco had to wait until 20 October to make his first start in the league, in the 1–0 loss to Eibar at Ipurua Municipal Stadium. Six days later, he started in front of Alavés's home supporters in the league for the first time, as they beat Lleida 3–1. He finally netted his first goal for the club in a 4–0 home win over Écija Balompié on 22 December, and ended the season with four goals in 34 appearances.

This cup run included a famous victory over Real Madrid in the round of 16. Going into the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 21 January, Alavés held a slim 1–0 advantage thanks to Manuel Serrano's goal in the first leg. With just ten minutes gone in the second leg, Riesco doubled their advantage, which would prove to be crucial. Despite Real goals from Roberto Carlos and Davor Šuker, Riesco's goal sent Alavés through the quarter-finals thanks to the away goals rule.

Alavés went on to beat Riesco's former club, Deportivo La Coruña, in the quarter-finals, before finally being eliminated by Real Mallorca in the semi-finals. His final match for Alavés was a 3–0 home win over Toledo on 16 May, in which he played the last 15 minutes after coming on for Sívori.

Ourense

With his former club heading for La Liga, Riesco remained in the Segunda División by joining their erstwhile rivals Ourense in July 1998. coming on as a substitute for Víctor Arias in the 3–0 away defeat by Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium on 30 August. From then on, he was a fixture in the starting line-up, making his home debut six days later in a 1–0 defeat at the hands of Málaga. His final Ourense game for the club came on 30 May, This victory wasn't enough to prevent Ourense's relegation, as they ended the season bottom of the table, a massive 20 points from safety.

Terrassa

Like Ourense, Riesco descended to Segunda División B in 1999–2000, joining Terrassa. He made his debut in the first match of the season, a 0–0 away draw with Cartagonova at their eponymous stadium on 29 August. Eight days later, he marked his home debut with a goal in the 3–0 victory over Lorca at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa. This was one of three goals he scored in his 27 appearances during his first season with Terrassa.

The following season was his most prolific with the club, scoring six goals in 30 games. 2001–02 was to bring more success, as he scored three times in 21 appearances He featured in five of the six playoff matches, against Barakaldo, Ceuta and Hércules, as Terrassa won all six and secured promotion to the Segunda División for the first time since 1978–79.

Riesco was now approaching his 33rd birthday, and struggled with injuries during the ensuing second tier campaign. He played just six times that year, just twice in the starting line-up. His final appearance was a one-minute cameo on 23 February 2003, being brought on in place of Juan Carlos Sanz at the end of a 2–1 win over Salamanca at Helmántico Stadium. Riesco retired at the end of the season after over 350 professional appearances in a 14-year career. Later, he became an agent, working with, among others, Óscar Rico. He negotiated Rico's signing by Riesco's former club, Deportivo Alavés, in 2009. Like many other former players, including Dani García, Toni Muñoz, Óscar Mena and Kiko, Riesco has also enjoyed success in amateur seven-a-side football. He won the national "Soccer 7" championship with his team, Desperdicios Majadahonda.

HonoursGetafeSegunda División B runners-up: 1989–90Rayo VallecanoSegunda División runners-up: 1991–92 (earning promotion to La Liga)Deportivo La CoruñaCopa del Rey: 1994–95 Supercopa de España: 1995 La Liga runners-up: 1993–94, 1994–95 Teresa Herrera Trophy: 1995 Teresa Herrera Trophy runners-up: 1994 Deportivo AlavésSegunda División: 1997–98Terrassa''' Segunda División B fifth place: 2001–02 (earning promotion to Segunda División)'' Copa Catalunya: 2001–02, 2002–03

Career statistics

1. Appearances in the 1993–94 UEFA Cup 2. Appearance in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 3. Appearances in the 1995–96 La Liga relegation playoff 4. Appearances in the 2002 Segunda División B playoffs