Manolo González's "black boots" and "three dog years"

BarcelonaOne of the first decisions Fran Garagarza made when he took over as sporting director of Espanyol was to stop the signing of Ferran Costa for Espanyol B and sign Manolo GonzálezHe wanted a more experienced profile, a coach who had battled for years in the mud of the Second Division RFEF. Having rejected higher-paying offers from higher-level clubs, such as Hércules, on July 3, 2023, the Galician became the coach of Espanyol's reserve team.

"Black Boots"

"I did preseason with the first team and was called up to the squad at the start of the league. When I returned to the reserve team, Manolo told me: 'Don't let it go to your head, you have to work hard here like everyone else, okay?' I thought this guy was direct and had character, that we'd be fine," he says with a smile. "In training, if you did a chip, a lob, or a move like that, he'd always say 'black boots.'"

That was a rejuvenated and practically brand-new reserve team that struggled to get going, but as the weeks went by, it began to take flight with a proactive and attacking style of football. "Beyond the personal and motivational aspect, he's also a fantastic coach in terms of footballing ability. Tactically, he explains very well what he wants from each player. For example, he put me as a left-sided center-back in a back five; he showed me my ideal position on the field," concludes the player from Europa, who is currently recovering from another injury.

Promotion to the first team

The good work in the reserve team meant that Garagarza, on March 12, 2024, which will soon be two years ago, gave the keys to the first team to one Manolo González who, with no prior experience in professional football, fulfilled the mandate of returning Espanyol to the First Division. Promotion was achieved on the night of San Juan, but it wasn't until June 26th that the club confirmed the continuity of the man from Folgoso do Courel. After two days of meetings and several calls – the club even contacted Sergio González – the sporting director decided that Manolo was the best option. He went from being a temporary solution to a key figure.

Last season, the Galician coach once again fulfilled his mission. After a brilliant April – he was chosen as the best coach of the month by La Liga – Espanyol vto certify salvation On the final day, it was also a hard-fought battle. But earlier, at the end of November, Manolo was close to being sacked for the first time in his career after to fall with a crash in MontiliviThen Garagarza's opinion, and that of the dressing room, which maintained its unwavering confidence in him, prevailed, and the alternative of Sergio González was once again rejected. During the summer, the club officially announced his contract extension until 2027, and the start of the season was dazzling. So much so that a team built to avoid relegation won five consecutive matches, equaling records from two decades ago. But this year things haven't gone so well: Espanyol has gone eight matches without a win and has only managed two points out of a possible 24 since the restart. It's the worst start to a calendar year in the club's history, and as a result, the Blanquiazules have dropped out of the European qualification places after 128 days.

However, Manolo González's position is not in question. For now, no one is seriously considering a change of scenery, and with 35 points under his belt, he is aware that last season he escaped from a much worse situation and is convinced he can reverse the current downward trend. In fact, his immediate goal is to reach 42 points and virtually secure survival in the next four matches (Elche, Oviedo, Mallorca, and Getafe). If he achieves this, barring any surprises, he will begin his fourth season at the club next summer.

A consensus figure

"Three years at Espanyol feel like a dog's life. It's quite an achievement, isn't it? I never would have imagined it," Manolo said last week with a laugh, having experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during this period. With over 700 days at the helm of the first team, he is now Espanyol's longest-serving manager since Mauricio Pochettino, who was dismissed at the end of 2012. He is also one of the 15 managers with the most matches in the club's 125-year history. "I hope it will be longer, but I ask that if I'm here it's because people want me, that I be a figure of unity and not of discord. Luckily, I have the support of the club, the fans, and the players," added the manager who has brought stability to an institution that, in recent times, has found a consensus figure capable of putting Espanyol back on track.