Honestly, whenever someone mentions Santiago Solari, the first image that pops into most people's heads is that chaotic 2018-2019 season at the Santiago Bernabéu. You know the one. He was the guy who had to follow the Julen Lopetegui disaster and somehow try to keep the wheels from falling off a post-Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid. But if you think his coaching career starts and ends with those few months in Spain, you’re missing like 80% of the story.
Solari isn't just some "caretaker" who got lucky. He’s a guy who basically grew up in the Valdebebas basement, learning how to manage the biggest egos in football from the ground up. He’s coached everything from 14-year-olds to global icons like Karim Benzema and Mexican superstars at Club América. It’s a wild, weird resume.
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Let’s actually look at the Santiago Solari teams coached list properly. It’s not just a list of clubs; it’s a timeline of a guy who is obsessed with "aggressive, fast, attacking football," even when the results didn't always go his way.
The Foundation: Real Madrid’s "La Fábrica" (2013–2016)
Before he was wearing the slim-fit suits on the touchline of the Champions League, Solari was doing the dirty work. He started in 2013, managing the youth ranks. We're talking about the Cadete B (U-15) and Cadete A (U-16).
Most people ignore this part. They shouldn't.
He spent three years grinding in the academy. In 2015, he moved up to the Juvenil B (U-18) and then eventually the Juvenil A (U-19). This is where he really started to find his voice. He wasn't just teaching tactics; he was teaching "Madridismo." He’s gone on record saying that coaching youngsters is actually harder than coaching seniors because you're forming their character, not just their 4-3-3 shape.
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Real Madrid Castilla: The Big Step (2016–2018)
In July 2016, Solari took over Real Madrid Castilla. This is the B-team. The pressure here is weird—you have to win, but you also have to develop players for the first team. It’s a balancing act that breaks most coaches.
Solari stayed there for over two seasons.
- Matches: 86
- Points Per Game: 1.45
His record wasn't mind-blowing, but look at who he was working with. He was the guy who really started the engine for players like Vinícius Júnior. When Vini first arrived from Brazil, he was raw. Solari played him in the third division, protected him, and let him find his feet. That relationship eventually became the cornerstone of his jump to the senior squad.
The Real Madrid First Team Chaos (2018–2019)
October 29, 2018. Real Madrid had just been thumped 5-1 by Barcelona. Lopetegui was out. The club was in a tailspin.
Solari got the call. Initially, he was just the "interim" guy. But he started with four straight wins. The board was like, "Okay, maybe this works?" and gave him a contract until 2021.
His time with the senior Santiago Solari teams coached is defined by one word: Cojones.
He didn't care about reputations. He benched Isco. He benched Marcelo. He benched Gareth Bale. Instead, he started teenagers like Vinícius and Sergio Reguilón. He leaned into Lucas Vázquez for his work rate. It was a "meritocracy" that pissed off the old guard but gave the team a pulse.
The high point? Winning the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup. He actually won a trophy!
The low point? That horrific week in March 2019. They lost to Barca twice and then got dismantled by Ajax in the Champions League. It was over. He finished with 18 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses. A 2.00 PPG average is actually decent, but at Madrid, losing to Ajax at home is a death sentence.
Heading to Mexico: Club América (2021–2022)
After a break, Solari popped up in a place nobody expected: Mexico City. He signed with Club América in December 2020.
This was a totally different beast. Liga MX is chaotic. The travel is insane. The playoff system (Liguilla) is a nightmare for European-style coaches.
But Solari actually killed it in the regular season. In the Apertura 2021, he started with a run that tied records set by Leo Beenhakker in the 90s. He made América a defensive machine. They were disciplined, boringly efficient, and topped the table.
However, the "Solari Out" chants started because he couldn't win the big ones. He lost the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League final to Monterrey. He kept getting knocked out early in the Liguilla.
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Eventually, the wheels came off in 2022. The team plummeted to the bottom of the table, and he was sacked in March.
- Stats at América: 52 games, 27 wins, 12 draws, 13 losses.
Where is he now?
He’s back at Real Madrid. But not as a coach.
As of early 2026, Solari is the Director of Football at Real Madrid. He’s the guy behind the scenes now, overseeing Valdebebas, the academy, and the transition of players to the first team. It’s a massive role. He basically replaced Manuel Fernández and has become one of Florentino Pérez’s most trusted advisors.
He isn't on the grass every day anymore, but his influence on the current Real Madrid squad—especially the way they integrate young talent—is everywhere.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're tracking the Santiago Solari teams coached or looking at his career for tactical inspiration, keep these three things in mind:
- Look at the youth transition: Solari's biggest legacy isn't the Club World Cup; it's the fact that he had the guts to start Vinícius Júnior when everyone else thought he was just a "YouTube player."
- System vs. Talent: At América, he proved he could build a rigid, winning system. At Madrid, he proved he could handle a crisis. He's a more versatile coach than the "Ajax loss" narrative suggests.
- The "Director" Role: Keep an eye on Real Madrid's signings over the next two years. Solari’s fingerprints will be on every young South American talent they bring in.
The guy has lived ten lives in the football world already. Whether he ever returns to the dugout remains to be seen, but for now, he’s the architect of the world’s biggest club.