Esteban Solari

Solari was born in Rosario, Santa Fe. After emerging through Vélez Sarsfield's youth ranks, he made his professional debut with Estudiantes de La Plata. He also represented in his country Defensa y Justicia, Argentinos Juniors and Gimnasia de Jujuy. After one year in Italy with amateurs Chioggia, Solari joined Lierse in the Belgian Pro League in summer 2004, scoring five goals in his only season to help his team finish in tenth position. Subsequently, he signed for APOEL in Cyprus, extending his contract until 2008 after impressing in his first year – 14 league goals in only 16 starts, winning the Cypriot Cup. Solari finished top scorer in the First Division in 2006–07 (20 goals), as the Nicosia-based club won its third national championship in six years. He was also voted the league's MVP but, at the end of May 2007, agreed on a transfer to Pumas UNAM of Mexico, once again winning an individual scoring accolade after netting 14 times in the Apertura. On 15 June 2008, Solari was transferred to Almería, who paid €3.8 million to Pumas UNAM. He made his Spanish La Liga debut on 31 August, in a 3–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao where he came on as a late substitute. He finished his first season with just eight games, scoring his only league goal – three overall – for the Andalusians in the 2–1 loss at Numancia. On 2 June 2010, the 30-year-old Solari signed for three years with former club APOEL. He immediately made an impact by scoring four goals in six appearances in that…

In late 2018, Solari was named Fernando Batista's assistant at the Argentina under-20 team. The pair worked together at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in Poland and later with the under-23 side at the 2020 Summer Olympics, with the latter competition being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Solari was appointed head coach of Johor Darul Ta'zim on 1 December 2022, replacing his compatriot Héctor Bidoglio who stepped down to become technical director of the Malaysia Super League club. He became the first manager in their history to win all four titles in one season, with 39 wins in 43 matches (90.70% points); additionally, the side was the first to score 100 goals in a single league. On 13 March 2024, Solari signed for Everton de Viña del Mar in the Chilean Primera División. On 26 November, after winning 15 of his 33 games in charge and qualifying his team for the Copa Sudamericana, he left by mutual consent. Solari became head coach of Godoy Cruz in the Argentine Primera División on 14 February 2025. He worked in the Mexican Liga MX after leaving, with Pachuca and UNAM, being appointed at the latter 18 years after his spell as a player.

Solari was nicknamed Tano, which means 'Italian' in Argentinian slang. His father Eduardo and two of his four siblings, the elder Santiago and younger David, were also footballers, with the former playing with individual and team success for Real Madrid and Inter Milan; his uncle Jorge represented several clubs during his career, mostly River Plate, whilst cousin through marriage Fernando Redondo also appeared for Real Madrid. Solari's sister, Liz, works as an actress.

Player

APOEL

Cypriot First Division: 2006–07, 2010–11 Cypriot Cup: 2005–06 Cypriot Super Cup: 2011 Apollon Limassol

Cypriot Cup: 2012–13 Individual

Cypriot First Division MVP: 2006–07 Cypriot First Division top scorer: 2006–07 Super League Greece top scorer: 2013–14

Manager

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Malaysia Super League: 2023 Malaysia FA Cup: 2023 Piala Sumbangsih: 2023 Malaysia Cup: 2023