Full name David Vidal Tome 1972–1973 Lleida Name David Vidal | Playing position Role Football player Years Team | |
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Date of birth (1950-08-02) 2 August 1950 (age 65) | ||
Place of birth Porto do Son, Spain | ||
David Vidal Tomé (born 2 August 1950) is a Spanish football manager.
Football career
Vidal was born in Porto do Son, A Coruña, Galicia. After an unassuming career (the central defender never played in La Liga and appeared in only 15 second division games) he took up coaching in 1982, first with Cádiz CF in his adopted city, where he had retired as a player.
Vidal began with the Andalusians' youth sides, then moved to assistant manager, being finally appointed head coach for the 1988–89 season after a brief interim spell in 1987. It was during that time he managed arguably the club's best ever player, Mágico González, of whom he once said: "Technically he was better than Maradona".
After two-and-a-half additional years in the top flight with modest CD Logroñés, which always maintained its status, Vidal resumed his career mainly in the second level. On 12 January 2007 he was appointed manager of Elche CF, following the sacking of Luis García. On 12 October of the following year, following a draw at Celta de Vigo which meant Elche only managed two points from seven games, the manager was sacked following a meeting with the club's directors; his assistant, former Spain and Deportivo de La Coruña player Claudio Barragán was temporarily placed in charge of the team.
On 17 March 2010, the board of directors of Albacete Balompié announced that Vidal would replace Julián Rubio as manager until the end of the campaign. After helping the Castile-La Mancha side avoid relegation from division two, as 15th, he was released.
Vidal returned to Albacete midway through the 2010–11 season, replacing fired Antonio Calderón. He was also sacked after only one-and-a-half months in charge, as the team was eventually relegated to the third tier after 21 years.
After two years out of football, Vidal was appointed at Tercera División club Xerez CD on 13 July 2013. As it was in the midst of severe economic problems, he left after less than one month, and continued to work in the lower leagues.
In May 2017, Vidal achieved promotion to the second division with Lorca FC after arriving the previous month. On 5 June, however, his contract was not extended.