Pedro Riesco Herrera (born 25 October 1969) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a forward. After retirement, he worked as a youth coach and an agent, as well as having success in amateur seven-a-side football.
He amassed La Liga totals of 93 games and 12 goals during four seasons with Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo La Coruña, Real Valladolid and Albacete Balompié. He also played in the second and third tiers of Spanish football in the course of a 14-year professional career.
Playing career
Getafe
Riesco was born in the Spanish capital, Madrid, and began his professional career with Madrilenian side Getafe. He made his way into the team in the latter stages of the 1989–90 Segunda División B campaign, making his debut in a 2–2 draw at home to Juventud Cambados on 11 March. He scored his first goal on 29 April, netting after just four minutes away to Cultural Leonesa at Estadio Antonio Amilivia, in a match which Getafe ultimately won 2–1. He followed this up with a second goal a week later in a 3–1 home win over Real Ávila, and added a third before the end of the season, in the 2–1 home win over Arosa on 20 May. A week later, he played in a 2–1 away defeat at the hands of Pontevedra at Estadio Municipal de Pasarón, which marked his 11th appearance of the season.
Despite this defeat in the final match, Getafe ended the season as runners-up. Riesco's good form was attracting attention, and he moved on at the end of the season.
Rayo Vallecano
Staying in Madrid, Riesco joined newly relegated Segunda División side Rayo Vallecano in 1990. He made his debut on 9 September at home to Deportivo La Coruña, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Rafael García Cortés. Rayo ultimately lost the match at Vallecas 3–0. His full debut came a week later in a 1–1 away draw against Real Avilés Industrial, and he kept his place for the home fixture against Figueres on 23 September, which ended in the same scoreline.
He made 14 appearances that season, but it was in 1991–92 that he would really make his name. He played 39 times in all competitions, and his eight goals were a major factor in Rayo securing the runners-up spot in the league and earning a return to La Liga after two seasons away. He made his top flight debut on 5 September 1992, against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium, in a match which Rayo lost 1–0. Their first home game was eight days later against Logroñés, which ended 2–1 in the hosts' favour. On 1 October, Riesco scored a brace in the 4–1 Copa del Rey third round first leg victory over Tudelano at Estadio Ciudad de Tudela; Rayo went on to win the tie 10–2.
Riesco opened his league account on 8 November with a goal just after half time against Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, although he couldn't prevent the hosts taking a 3–2 victory. Ultimately, that season was his best in the top flight, as he scored eight goals in 39 appearances in all competitions. Unsurprisingly, this form led to interest from bigger clubs, including Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, and by the end of the season it was known that he was moving on. His final match for Rayo was a 2–2 home draw with Albacete Balompié on 13 June 1993.
Deportivo La Coruña
Despite interest from Madrid's two giant teams, it was confirmed in May 1993 that Riesco would join Deportivo La Coruña, with a fee of 100 million Pta and a three-year contract. Head coach Arsenio Iglesias was in the process of building his legendary Super Depor side, which featured the attacking talents of Brazil international Bebeto alongside Claudio Barragán and Javier Manjarín, both of whom would earn call-ups to the Spanish national team thanks to their exploits with the club. Despite this competition, Riesco started the first game of the season on 5 September, a 0–0 home draw with Celta Vigo at Estadio Riazor, although his opportunities in the league would be limited.