Francisco 'Patxi' Salinas Fernández (born 17 November 1963) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a central defender, currently a manager. He amassed La Liga totals of 432 games and 11 goals over 16 seasons, with Athletic Bilbao and Celta, winning two national championships with the former club. Subsequently, he worked as a manager.

Playing career

Club

Born in Bilbao, Salinas emerged through Athletic Bilbao's youth ranks, and made his league debut on 10 November 1982, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against UD Salamanca. He appeared in 14 La Liga matches in the 1983–84 season as the team managed to conquer the double. In the following campaign he became a regular fixture with the Basques alongside another Lezama graduate, Genar Andrinúa. In summer 1992, Salinas joined RC Celta de Vigo, where he proceeded to post equally impressive numbers in his six-season spell – always in the top division – retiring from the game at almost 35.

International

Over a one-month span, Salinas earned two caps for Spain, both in friendlies. His debut was on 14 September 1988 in a 1–2 loss to Yugoslavia, in Oviedo.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player, Salinas had brief stints at coaching Celta's youth teams and UDA Gramenet, and directing Rápido de Bouzas. As a manager, in quick succession, he also worked with Athletic's youth teams, CD Ourense, Melita FC (Maltese Premier League) and UE Sant Andreu. Salinas achieved promotion to Segunda División B with Rápido in June 2017. One month later, after announcing weeks before he would leave the Galician side, he agreed terms with Burgos CF. He was dismissed on 5 February 2018, leaving them in ninth position and having conceded the fewest goals in the division. On 22 May 2018, Salinas was appointed manager of CD Badajoz. In June of the following year, he signed in the same capacity with CD Basconia, Athletic Bilbao's farm team; his former teammate Rafael Alkorta was now director of football at the parent club. In December 2021, he moved up to become coach of the reserves following the sacking of Imanol de la Sota.

Personal life

Salinas' older brother, Julio, was also a professional footballer (centre-forward), and played most notably for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona. Both made their top-flight debut in the 1982–83 season. They held the record for combined appearances in La Liga by siblings at the time of their retirement with 849 matches – occasions where they both played as teammates or opponents counted for each – 86 more than the next pair, Quini and Jesús Castro.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Athletic Bilbao Celta