Borja Viguera Manzanares (born 26 March 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker. Known for his goal-scoring ability and powerful shot, he spent the majority of his career in the Spanish Segunda División and La Liga.
Early life and career
Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Viguera began his football journey in the youth ranks of his local club, Real Sociedad. He progressed through the club's academy, showing promise as a forward.Club career
Real Sociedad
Viguera made his senior debut with Real Sociedad's B-team, Real Sociedad B, in the Segunda División B. After consistent performances for the reserves, he was promoted to the first team and made his La Liga debut on 29 October 2006, coming on as a substitute in a match against Deportivo La Coruña. However, opportunities were limited, and he spent several seasons primarily with the B-team.Loan spells
To gain more first-team experience, Viguera was loaned out to Gimnàstic de Tarragona for the 2010–2011 season, where he played in the Segunda División. He continued to develop his game, though goals were not always frequent during this period.Deportivo Alavés
In 2012, Viguera moved to Deportivo Alavés, then in the Segunda División B. This move proved to be a turning point in his career. In the 2012–2013 season, he was instrumental in helping Alavés achieve promotion back to the Segunda División, scoring crucial goals. His best season came in 2013–2014, where he emerged as the league's top scorer (Pichichi Trophy) in the Segunda División with 25 goals, a remarkable feat that attracted attention from top-tier clubs.Athletic Bilbao
Following his prolific season with Alavés, Viguera signed with La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in 2014. Despite the high expectations, he found it challenging to secure a regular starting spot in a competitive Athletic attack, often playing as a substitute. He remained with the club for two seasons, contributing to their squad depth.Sporting Gijón and later career
In 2016, Viguera joined Sporting Gijón. He spent a season there before moving to Numancia in 2017. He continued his career in lower divisions with clubs like Real Unión and CD Calahorra before retiring from professional football.International career
Borja Viguera represented Spain at various youth levels, though he never earned a cap for the senior national team.Playing style
Viguera was primarily known as a centre-forward or striker. His key attributes included his strong physical presence, ability to hold up the ball, and a powerful, accurate shot. He was also praised for his work rate and commitment on the field.Honours
- Individual:
- Segunda División Pichichi Trophy: 2013–14 (25 goals)
External links
- Borja Viguera at BDFutbol (English)
- Borja Viguera at Soccerway (English)
- [Further football statistics websites, e.g., Transfermarkt, Athletic Club official profile if applicable]