Full name Luis Helguera Bujia Years Team Height 1.81 m | Playing position Role Footballer Name Luis Helguera Siblings Ivan Helguera | |
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Date of birth (1976-06-09) 9 June 1976 (age 39) Nephews Luca Casado Helguera, Enzo Casado Helguera | ||
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.