Real Oviedo have appointed former Real Madrid and Spain striker Raúl González as their new head coach on a contract until June 2028, the club announced on Monday, hours after dismissing Julián Calero.
Why did Oviedo sack Julián Calero?
Oviedo confirmed on Monday morning that they had terminated Calero's contract, which ran until 30 June 2027, and that his coaching staff were leaving with him. The decision came only two days after a 2-1 win away at Cádiz in LaLiga Hypermotion, Spain's second tier.
That victory was not enough to save him. Oviedo, relegated from LaLiga last season, had just been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by fourth-tier Numancia, and Spanish broadcaster RTVE points to that exit and the owners' doubts about the team's play as the main reasons for the change.
Oviedo are ninth after 13 games with 21 points, level with eighth-placed Girona, one point outside the play-off places and eight behind leaders Almería.
What has Raúl done as a coach?
Raúl, 49, spent more than 15 years as a player at Real Madrid before spells at Schalke, Al-Sadd and New York Cosmos, retiring in 2015. His coaching career has so far been entirely in Real Madrid's academy.
He joined the youth set-up in 2018, won the UEFA Youth League with Madrid's under-19 side and then coached Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team, before leaving at the end of the 2024-25 season. Oviedo is his first senior job outside Madrid.
Marca, which first reported Oviedo's move for him on Sunday, says the club's owners, Grupo Pachuca, were won over by his personality and record. His son Héctor plays for Vetusta, Oviedo's reserve side. RTVE says this is the seventh coaching change since Grupo Pachuca took control of the club in 2022.
What happens next?
Raúl will not speak publicly until his official presentation. His first game in charge is at home to Girona at the Carlos Tartiere on Saturday 14 November, with the two sides level on points in the race for promotion.
Read more about recent coaching changes in Spain, such as Osasuna's switch from Ramis to Jagoba Arrasate, and Raúl's old club in Valencia 0-3 Real Madrid, or browse all manager news.
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