Real Oviedo is in search of its fourth manager within a year as the club aims to bounce back to La Liga next season. After three coaches endeavored to retain their La Liga status, they became the first team to be relegated to Segunda.
Club legend Veljko Paunovic successfully led Oviedo back to La Liga after a 24-year absence, but he was dismissed just three months into the season. Luis Carrion, who had previously managed Oviedo, returned only to go winless during his second spell, leading to his exit in December, when he was succeeded by Guillermo Almada, who was then coaching Real Valladolid. Almada managed to secure over two-thirds of Oviedo’s total points, but it still wasn’t enough to avoid relegation.
Guillermo Almada Announces Departure from Oviedo
After a little over six months in charge, Almada declared he would be stepping down from his position at Oviedo, despite receiving an offer to extend his contract.
“We will not continue at Real Oviedo; this is a personal decision. It has been a tremendous honor to be part of such an esteemed institution, and we truly appreciate the offer to stay on, but we’ve made this decision for multiple reasons. Oviedo has a bright future and a solid chance of returning to the First Division. We’re all just passing through; what matters most is the institution, which has rich history and is something to be proud of,” Almada stated on Thursday, as reported by La Voz de Asturias.
Matteo Moretto has reported that Almada is now a candidate to take over at Cruz Azul in Mexico, which may have influenced his decision.
Real Oviedo Considering Fredi Alvarez as Replacement
Image via LVDG
The Italian transfer journalist has reported that Fredi Alvarez, currently managing Celta Vigo’s affiliate team Celta Fortuna, is a leading candidate for the managerial position. Alvarez has successfully led Fortuna to the Primera RFEF play-offs for the second time in three years after taking over from Claudio Giraldez.
At 50 years old, Alvarez has primarily worked in Galician football, managing clubs like Santiago de Compostela, Boiro, and Izarra in the lower leagues before rejoining Celta in 2021. Over the past five years, he has progressed from youth coach to managing the under-19s and the affiliate team Gran Pena, before taking the reins at Celta Fortuna.