Overview
Miguel Ángel Montes Busto (28 February 1940 – 20 May 2019) was a Spanish football player and manager. Born in Oviedo, in the region of Asturias, he built a long career as a forward at clubs in northern and insular Spain before moving into coaching and club management.
Playing career
Montes Busto played primarily as a forward and spent the bulk of his professional years in the second tier of Spanish football. Across the period from 1959 to 1971 he appeared in the Segunda División for multiple teams. He was associated with the Asturian side Real Gijón (now commonly known as Sporting de Gijón) and also had spells with Las Palmas and Real Oviedo. His playing style was that of a traditional centre-forward of his era: focused on positioning, finishing and linking play in the attacking third.
Clubs (as player)
- Real Gijón
- Las Palmas
- Real Oviedo
Managerial career
After retiring from the field, Montes Busto turned to coaching. He managed a range of teams, from projects in the lower national divisions up to Spain's top flight. Notably he took charge of Palencia in the Segunda División and worked with several clubs competing in Segunda División B. He also served as manager of Sporting de Gijón during a period in which the club competed in La Liga, bringing local experience and continuity to the coaching staff.
Legacy and significance
Miguel Montes Busto is remembered in Asturias and among the clubs he served as a representative of mid-20th-century Spanish football figures who combined solid playing careers with long coaching tenures. His career illustrates the common pathway from regional professional player to coach, contributing to the development and continuity of clubs outside Spain's biggest urban centres. He remains a noted figure in club histories, particularly in Gijón and Oviedo.
Death
Montes Busto died on 20 May 2019 in Gijón, Asturias, at the age of 79. Obituaries and club tributes emphasized his service to regional football both on the pitch and from the technical area, and his passing was marked by supporters and former colleagues who remembered his role across several decades.