Néstor Lorenzo

Néstor Gabriel Lorenzo (born 26 February 1966) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a defender. He is the current head coach of the Colombia national team.

Lorenzo played for Argentinos Juniors, A.S. Bari, Swindon Town, Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, Ferrocarril Oeste and Boca Juniors. Lorenzo also represented Argentina in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, including the final which the Argentines lost to Germany.

Club career
Born in Villa Celina, La Matanza, Buenos Aires Province, Lorenzo was a product of Argentinos Juniors' youth categories. After making his first team debut in 1985, he spent four seasons at the club before moving to Italian side Bari in 1989.

After Italia '90 and after an attempt by Brian Clough to sign Lorenzo for Nottingham Forest fell through, Argentine legend Ossie Ardiles signed the defender for Swindon Town on loan and eventually the deal became a permanent switch. He played 27 times for The Robins, scoring two goals: one in his debut at the County Ground against Portsmouth in a 3–0 win, and one away at Watford in a 2–2 draw.

After seeing out his contract, Lorenzo returned to Argentina and signed for San Lorenzo in 1992. After two seasons as a starter, he had one-year spells at Banfield, Ferro Carril Oeste, Boca Juniors and Primera B Nacional side Quilmes, retiring with the latter in 1998.

International career
After featuring in the 1988 Summer Olympics, Lorenzo made his international debut with the Argentina national team on 6 July 1988, in a 2–2 friendly against Saudi Arabia. He was included in Carlos Bilardo's 23-man squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, featuring in two matches in the group stage before starting in the final against West Germany.

Assistant coach
After retiring, Lorenzo joined José Pékerman's staff in the Argentina national under-20 team in 2000, as an assistant coach. He worked with Carlos Aimar at Spanish side CD Leganés under the same role, before reuniting with Pékerman in the Argentina national team in 2004.

Lorenzo remained working with Pékerman at Toluca, Tigres UANL and the Colombia national team.

Melgar
On 16 December 2020, Lorenzo had his first managerial experience after being named at the helm of Peruvian Primera División side FBC Melgar. After a poor start in the Fase 1, as the club finished in the last position of their group, they finished fourth in the Fase 2 and qualified to the 2022 Copa Sudamericana.

Under Lorenzo's guidance, Melgar won the 2022 Apertura tournament in July. He left after qualifying the club to the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana.

Colombia national team
On 2 June 2022, the Colombian Football Federation announced Lorenzo as head coach of the national team for the following four years; he remained in charge of Melgar until July. On 20 June 2023, Colombia beat the Germany national team for the first time in its history in a dominant 2–0 victory under Lorenzo.

In July 2024, Colombia went 28 games undefeated under Lorenzo and had significant victories over the national teams of Germany, Brazil, Uruguay and Spain. Another major achievement of Lorenzo's was leading the national team to its first Copa America final in 23 years and managing Colombia to score 12 goals in the 2024 Copa America, their highest record in the competition; they lost the final on extra time to Argentina.

Player
Argentinos Juniors
 * Copa Interamericana: 1985

AS Bari
 * Mitropa Cup: 1990

Argentina
 * FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1990

Manager
FBC Melgar
 * Torneo Apertura: 2022

Colombia
 * Copa América runner-up: 2024