Fabián Daniel Bustos Barbero (born 28 March 1969) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a forward. He is the current manager of Peruvian club Universitario.

Bustos played for local sides during the major part of his career, amassing 32 appearances in the Argentine Primera División with Lanús and Belgrano. He also played in Uruguay with Nacional, in Bolivia with Jorge Wilstermann, and in Ecuador with Deportivo Quito, Macará, Manta and Deportivo Saquisilí, but retired back in his home country with Estudiantes de Buenos Aires.

After retiring, Bustos worked as an assistant manager before becoming a manager in 2009, with Manta. He continued to manage in Ecuador, winning two Ecuadorian Serie A titles with Delfín and Barcelona SC before being named in charge of Brazilian club Santos in 2022.

Playing career Born in Córdoba, Bustos began his senior career with local side in 1986. He moved to in 1989, before returning to his previous club in 1990, and moved to Primera B Nacional side Almirante Brown in the following year, after a short stint at Uruguayan side Nacional.

In 1992, Bustos signed for Lanús in the Argentine Primera División, but featured sparingly before moving to fellow league team Belgrano in 1994. He went on to play for second division sides in the following five seasons, representing Deportivo Morón, Juventud Antoniana, Atlético Tucumán and Cipolletti, before moving abroad in 2000 with Bolivian side Jorge Wilsterman.

Bustos moved to Ecuador in 2000, and signed for Deportivo Quito. He then played for Manta, Macará and Deportivo Saquisilí in the country, before returning to Argentina in 2004 with El Porvenir. In 2005, he joined Estudiantes de Buenos Aires, and retired with the club in the following year, aged 36.

Managerial career Early career After being an assistant manager at Sarmiento, El Porvenir and Acassuso, Bustos was named manager of former side Manta on 15 July 2009. He opted to leave the club on a mutual agreement on 8 December 2010, and was named manager of another club he represented as a player, Deportivo Quito, thirteen days later.

Bustos was sacked by Quito on 1 May 2011, and was presented as manager of fellow Serie A team Imbabura on 30 June. He resigned on 25 August, and took over Técnico Universitario for the ensuing season on 16 December.

Dismissed by Técnico Universitario on 14 April 2012, Bustos was later named manager of Macará on 9 July. He resigned from the latter on 28 April 2013, and subsequently returned to Manta on 1 July. After leaving Manta at the end of his contract in December 2013, Bustos was later named manager of Serie B side LDU Portoviejo. He left the club the following 21 August.

Delfín He was named in charge of fellow second division side Delfín on 3 January 2015. He led Delfín back to the top tier after 15 years, but was dismissed by the club on 30 April 2016. Bustos returned to the club in December 2016, now as a sporting director, but was named manager again in April 2018, after the departure of Guillermo Sanguinetti, managing to qualify Delfín to the 2019 Copa Sudamericana. He stayed in charge of the team for the following season, in which the club finished in 4th place of the first stage of the 2019 Serie A, advancing to the playoffs. After defeating Independiente del Valle, Macará and L.D.U. Quito in the final, Bustos led Delfín to their first-ever Serie A title; however, he left the club on 15 December of that year.

Barcelona SC Immediately after leaving Delfín, Bustos took over Barcelona SC. In his first season, he won a second consecutive Serie A title, once again defeating L.D.U. Quito in the finals, and led the club to the semifinals of the 2021 Copa Libertadores. On 25 February 2022, Barcelona announced Bustos' departure through a press conference, with his last match in charge of the club occurring the following day.

Santos On 25 February 2022, Santos announced the signing of Bustos as manager, with his contract to be signed in the following days. On 7 July, after just one win in 13 matches, he was sacked.

Return to Barcelona SC On 5 September 2022, Bustos returned to his former club Barcelona in the place of departing Jorge Célico. He resigned on 4 June of the following year, after a 3–1 loss to rivals Emelec.

América Mineiro On 9 August 2023, Bustos returned to Brazil and its top tier, after being named head coach of América Mineiro. On 9 November, after the club's relegation, he was dismissed.

Universitario de Deportes On 30 December 2023, Bustos was announced as the head coach of Universitario de Deportes. He led the club to the 2024 title, after winning both the Apertura and the Clausura, but left on 14 April 2025.

Olimpia On 17 April 2025, Bustos was announced as manager of Olimpia in Paraguay. He was dismissed on 14 July 2025, following a loss to Sportivo Trinidense on the second matchday of the 2025 Clausura tournament.

Millonarios On 1 February 2026, Bustos was announced as manager of Colombian side Millonarios, replacing Hernán Torres. Seven months later, he was dismissed by the club.

Personal life Bustos' older brother Carlos is also a manager and former footballer. A defender, he began his career at Talleres and had the most of his managerial career in Peru and Mexico.

Managerial statistics

+Managerial record by team and tenureTeamNat.FromToRecordManta14 July 200915 December 2010Deportivo Quito21 December 20101 May 2011Imbabura30 June 201125 August 2011Técnico Universitario16 December 201114 April 2012Macará9 July 201228 April 2013Manta1 July 20138 December 2013LDU Portoviejo24 December 201321 August 2014Delfín3 January 201530 April 2016LDU Portoviejo26 January 201710 October 2017Delfín15 April 201815 December 2019Barcelona SC15 December 201926 February 2022Santos28 February 20227 July 2022Barcelona SC5 September 20224 June 2023América Mineiro9 August 20239 November 2023Universitario de Deportes30 December 202314 April 2025Olimpia17 April 202514 July 2025Millonarios1 February 20261 September 2026Universitario de Deportes30 September 2026presentCareer totals—

Honours Delfín Ecuadorian Serie B: 2015 Ecuadorian Serie A: 2019

Barcelona SC Ecuadorian Serie A: 2020

Universitario de Deportes Peruvian Primera División: 2024

References

External links