I would like to declare an interest in the currently vacant managerial role for Espanyol FC.
I started my managerial career at the end of Season 3, where I was assigned to Wigan Athletic who were already relegated from the English Premiership.
Condemned to the Championship with little cash and an ageing squad, Season 4 was tough, but with the minimal cash the club had in the transfer kitty at my disposal, I made no more than two signings mid season which proved key to a team which was far from Premiership class. Achieving a close 6th place giving Wigan Athletic a promotion shot, the lottery of penalties proved that even with your ticket, you can still lose, as Middlesbrough emerged victorious in the Semi-Finals.
Season 5 was an improvement on the previous finish as Wigan were safely inside the play-off zone finishing 4th. Again, Wigan had bought their ticket but a De Ja Vu saw promotion hopes dashed by Middlesbrough, the Germans when it comes to penalties it would seem! Another Semi-Final exit.
Season 6 was time for a change of scenery as I accepted a different challenge in sunny Spain; keeping Real Zaragoza afloat in La Liga. Again, equipt with barely any cash and another ageing squad, the relegation dogfight went down to the wire and Celta Vigo left a bitter taste of defeat in my mouth, condemning Zaragoza to Segunda on the final day.
Setting up a link with Sevilla, the unfunded push for promotion back to La Liga began with an annoying 0-0 draw with Villareal. With the arrival of loan signing Victor Moses from Sevilla, the 9 game unbeaten run began and we went into the second half of the season, comfortably inside the automatic promotion places and with a large lead for the title. The ageing squad I had dropped off for the second half, but taking 2nd place, an automatic promotion to La Liga was well earned with a 10pt gap minimum on play-off places.
I believe that after my 5 Seasons of management, I may be able to tick all, if not most of the boxes that the Espanyol board are looking for in their manager. I have worked all of my managerial career with no money and ageing teams, making key acquisitions to both teams I have managed previously.
Espanyol are a great team and have potential to damage any La Liga team on their day. They have a lot of ageing players which I believe I can manage to full effectiveness, which is required this season more-so due to the fact that UEFA Cup football beckons.
I feel that this new challenge will bring out the best in my management abilities and Espanyol can reap the benefits from this.
Good luck with your application mate. Would be nice to be challenged when I play you next time ;) Think you'd do a good job if given the chance.
Also, just wanted to point out that had you stayed with Wigan & not gone to Zaragoza, you'd have got an investment, as it happens the Wigan caretaker manager got the investment instead lol
good luck on the job I think that you could do alot with the team as you have obviously had practice managing the older squads and maybe it wouldnt hurt to give you abit of money to play with :P also when i see you in La Liga might be abit more of a challenge when i play you. Hope you get it mate, you got my vote!
