Felipe Vega-Arango

Felipe Vega-Arango

Personal information
Full name	Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso [1]
Place of birth	Gijon, Spain [1]
Team information
Current team	Papua New Guinea
Managerial career
Years	Team
2017–2018	Solomon Islands
2021–2024	Solomon Islands
2024–	Papua New Guinea
Medal record Men's football Representing   Solomon Islands (as manager) Pacific Games Runner-up 2023 Solomon Islands MSG Prime Minister's Cup Winner 2023 New Caledonia

Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso is a Spanish football coach who first managed the Solomon Islands national football team in 2017 and was re-appointed as coach in June 2021.

Solomon Islands

Assuming the post of technical director for the Solomon Islands Football Federation in March 2017 ^[2] after sending his CV to various football associations around the world, ^[3] Vega-Arango coevally held the position of coach for the country's national selection also, winning his first game in charge with a 3–2 victory over Papua New Guinea in the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying phases. ^[4] This was followed by another 2–1 triumph over the same opposition. ^[5]

Before their Oceania Football Confederation decider match versus New Zealand ^[6] for entry into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he stated that his charges were ready for the round, ^[7] only to lose to the All Whites 6–1. ^[8] Despite saying that the chances of a win by a five-goal margin in the next leg were low, ^[8] Vega-Arango maintained that his ambition was to win the second round. ^[9] In the end, he led them to a 2–2 draw.

Arango was re-appointed as Head Coach of the Solomon Islands national football team in June 2021. ^[10]

Personal life

Vega-Arango is the son of Manuel Vega-Arango, the former president of Spanish team Sporting de Gijón. ^[3]

Honours

Manager

Solomon Islands

• Pacific Games: runner-up 2023 Solomon Islands ^{[11] [12]}
• MSG Prime Minister's Cup: 2023 New Caledonia ^{[13] [14]}

References

1. "Felipe Vera-Arango". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
2. España, La Nueva (7 March 2017). "Felipe Vega-Arango, director técnico de Islas Salomón".
3. "Clasificación Mundial 2018: Felipe Vega-Arango, el 'Rey Salomón' del fútbol - Marca.com". 15 June 2017.
4. "Selecciones: Felipe Vega-Arango debuta con victoria con Islas Salomón". migrantesdelbalon.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
5. "SI coach: Team deserved win - Loop PNG". 14 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
6. "El español Felipe Vega Arango lleva a Islas Salomón a la final de Oceanía". 13 June 2017.
7. Admin (2017-07-30). "'We're ready': Vera-Arango says Bonitos up for All Whites challenge | SIBC". Sibconline.com.sb. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
8. "Sport: Solomons coach laments New Zealand mismatch". 4 September 2017.
9. "We're going for the win: Vega Arango - SIBC" . Retrieved 17 January 2019.
10. "Solomon Islands appoint new coach". 23 June 2021.
11. Solomon Islands Football Federation. "SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
12. ABC News. "New Caledonia clinches men's football gold after tense penalty shootout against Solomon Islands" . Retrieved July 13, 2025.
13. Solomon Islands Football Federation. "MSG Squad Name". Facebook. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
14. Sports Media. "Champions Solomon Islands Return Home with MSG Cup 2023" . Retrieved July 13, 2025.