Alejandro Orfila (footballer)

Alejandro Miguel Orfila Colmenares (born 18 May 1976) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of Argentine club Barracas Central.

Playing career
Orfila was born in Montevideo, and began his career with the youth sides of Defensor Sporting. After finishing his formation, he moved to Segunda División side Miramar Misiones, where he spent two years before having a brief spell at Cerrito.

In 1999, Orfila moved abroad and joined Argentine Primera B Nacional side Tigre. In 2003, after suffering relegation to the Primera B Metropolitana, he signed for fellow third division side Sportivo Italiano.

Orfila would play his career in the Argentine third division in the following ten years (aside from a short period winning the Primera C Metropolitana with Barracas Central in 2010), representing Temperley (two spells), Italiano, Almirante Brown, Tristán Suárez, Deportivo Morón, Villa San Carlos and Colegiales. He would appear in the fourth tier in the last two seasons of his career, playing for Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, San Telmo, Sacachispas and San Miguel.

Managerial career
Shortly after retiring, Orfila worked as a coach of the Unionized Argentine Footballers in 2016 before being appointed manager of Comunicaciones on 5 January 2017, replacing Jorge Vivaldo. He led the club to the finals of the promotion play-offs in his first season, losing to Deportivo Riestra.

On 11 December 2017, Orfila left Comunicaciones to take over second division side Ferro Carril Oeste. He left on a mutual agreement on 9 February 2019, and was named Atlanta manager on 11 March.

Orfila left Atlanta in December 2019, and returned to his first club Defensor, now as manager. He was sacked on 12 November 2020, and returned to Argentina the following 7 February, after being presented at Belgrano.

Dismissed by Belgrano on 8 May 2021, and was announced as manager of Chilean side San Luis de Quillota nine days later. However, he did not take over the latter club, and was appointed manager of Morón on 6 December.

Orfila was relieved from his duties on 16 April 2022, and returned to Atlanta on 2 May. He only lasted six matches at the club, being sacked on 15 June.

On 25 October 2022, Orfila was appointed manager of another club he represented as a player, Almirante Brown. Dismissed the following 11 June, he was announced as manager of Temperley late in the month.

Orfila departed Temperley on 4 December 2023, and was appointed manager of Barracas Central in the Primera División nine days later.

Honours
Barracas Central
 * Primera C Metropolitana: 2009–10