José Manuel Esnal
Encyclopedia
José Manuel Esnal Pardo (born 25 March 1950 in Balmaseda
, Basque Country
), aka Mané, is a Spanish
football manager
.
His career was mostly associated to Lleida
and Alavés
, coaching the latter in five La Liga
seasons and taking it to the 2001 UEFA Cup Final
.
, he worked exclusively in the Basque Country
area during this time.
In 1988, he returned to Catalonia
and joined UE Lleida
, taking the club from Segunda División B
to La Liga
in only four years. In 1993–94, the team's second ever top flight experience, in spite of a 1–0 away win against FC Barcelona
and a 2–1 success against Real Madrid
at the Camp d´Esports
, relegation befell, after only five more wins in the season.
Lleida finished third in Segunda División
in the following season, but lost in the subsequent promotion playoffs against Sporting de Gijón
.
(only 12 games) and Levante UD
, Mané signed with Deportivo Alavés
, returning to the team after coaching it in 1984–85, in the third division. In his first season in his second spell, he led them to the league championship, adding a semifinal presence
in the Copa del Rey
, after ousting Real Madrid in the round of 16 and Deportivo de La Coruña
in the quarter-finals.
In 1999–2000, with a team that included Basque Julio Salinas
, Mané led Alavés to its best classification ever in the top flight, sixth, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification. Season highlights included winning both matches against Barcelona (2–1, 1–0) and a 2–1 home win against eventual champions Deportivo. In the European campaign, Alavés reached the final
, after disposing of, amongst others, F.C. Internazionale Milano
and fellow Spanish side Rayo Vallecano
, meeting Liverpool
in the decisive match: despite being 0–2 and 1–3 down, Alavés embarked on a spirited comeback and took the game to extra time
, eventually losing after an own goal
by Delfí Geli
; at the season's closure, he was voted Spanish Manager of the Year by magazine Don Balón
.
In the 2001–02 season, Mané led Alavés to its second UEFA Cup qualification, with a seventh-place finish in the league. However, on 27 April 2003, he was sacked following a 0–3 away loss against Valencia CF
, being replaced by Jesús Aranguren as the campaign ended in relegation, and the team returned to the second division after five years.
, after a one-year absence. In the following season, he returned to his native region after being appointed as Athletic Bilbao
as a replacement for sacked Félix Sarriugarte
, with the Lions eventually ranking 17th, being the first team above the relegation zone.
Mané's last job was in the 2008–09 season, as he was one of three coaches at RCD Espanyol
, with the team also eventually avoiding top division relegation.
Balmaseda
Balmaseda is a town in the Encartaciones region of Biscay in the Spanish Basque Country....
, Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
), aka Mané, is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
His career was mostly associated to Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
and Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, coaching the latter in five La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
seasons and taking it to the 2001 UEFA Cup Final
2001 UEFA Cup Final
The 2001 UEFA Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Alavés of Spain on 16 May 2001 at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2000–01 edition of Europe's secondary cup competition, the UEFA Cup. Liverpool were...
.
Early years / Lleida
Mané started coaching in his late 20's, his first job being with his hometown club. Safe for two years with UE FigueresUE Figueres
Unió Esportiva Figueres is a Spanish football team based in Figueres, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1919 and refounded in 2007, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal de Vilatenim, with a seating capacity of 9,472.-History:Figueres was first...
, he worked exclusively in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
area during this time.
In 1988, he returned to Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and joined UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
, taking the club from Segunda División B
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
to La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in only four years. In 1993–94, the team's second ever top flight experience, in spite of a 1–0 away win against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and a 2–1 success against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at the Camp d´Esports
Camp d´Esports
Camp d'Esports is a multi-use stadium in Lleida, Catalonia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of UE Lleida. The stadium holds 15,000 seats, and the dimensions for the football field are 102x68 meters....
, relegation befell, after only five more wins in the season.
Lleida finished third in Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
in the following season, but lost in the subsequent promotion playoffs against Sporting de Gijón
Sporting de Gijón
Real Sporting de Gijón, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club from Gijón, Asturias. Founded in 1 June 1905, it currently plays in Spanish first division....
.
Alavés
After second division spells at RCD MallorcaRCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
(only 12 games) and Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, Mané signed with Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, returning to the team after coaching it in 1984–85, in the third division. In his first season in his second spell, he led them to the league championship, adding a semifinal presence
1997–98 Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey 1997–98 is the 94th staging of the Copa del Rey.The competition started on September 3, 1997 and concluded on April 29, 1998 with the Final, held at the Estadio Mestalla in Valencia.-1st Round:...
in the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, after ousting Real Madrid in the round of 16 and Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
in the quarter-finals.
In 1999–2000, with a team that included Basque Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas
Julio Salinas Fernández is a retired Spanish footballer who played during the 1980s and 1990s....
, Mané led Alavés to its best classification ever in the top flight, sixth, with the subsequent UEFA Cup qualification. Season highlights included winning both matches against Barcelona (2–1, 1–0) and a 2–1 home win against eventual champions Deportivo. In the European campaign, Alavés reached the final
2001 UEFA Cup Final
The 2001 UEFA Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Alavés of Spain on 16 May 2001 at the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany. The showpiece event was the final match of the 2000–01 edition of Europe's secondary cup competition, the UEFA Cup. Liverpool were...
, after disposing of, amongst others, F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
and fellow Spanish side Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, meeting Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the decisive match: despite being 0–2 and 1–3 down, Alavés embarked on a spirited comeback and took the game to extra time
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
, eventually losing after an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
by Delfí Geli
Delfí Geli
Delfí Geli i Roura is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a right defender.-Club career:...
; at the season's closure, he was voted Spanish Manager of the Year by magazine Don Balón
Don Balón
Don Balón was a Spanish weekly sports magazine specialising in Spanish and international football. It was distributed on five continents....
.
In the 2001–02 season, Mané led Alavés to its second UEFA Cup qualification, with a seventh-place finish in the league. However, on 27 April 2003, he was sacked following a 0–3 away loss against Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, being replaced by Jesús Aranguren as the campaign ended in relegation, and the team returned to the second division after five years.
Late career
Mané helped another former team, Levante, promote to the top level in 20062005–06 Segunda División
-Classification 2005–06:-Relegated to Segunda División B:* UE Lleida -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 3* Ferrol -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 1* Eibar -- Relegated to Segunda División B - Group 4...
, after a one-year absence. In the following season, he returned to his native region after being appointed as Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
as a replacement for sacked Félix Sarriugarte
Félix Sarriugarte
Félix Sarriugarte Montoya is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a forward, and a current manager.-Football career:...
, with the Lions eventually ranking 17th, being the first team above the relegation zone.
Mané's last job was in the 2008–09 season, as he was one of three coaches at RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, with the team also eventually avoiding top division relegation.
Honours
- Figueres:
- Segunda División BSegunda División BSegunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
: 1985–86
- Segunda División B
- Lleida:
- Segunda DivisiónSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
: 1992–93 - Segunda División BSegunda División BSegunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
: 1989–90 - Copa Catalunya: Runner-up 1992, 1999
- Segunda División
- Alavés:
- Segunda DivisiónSegunda DivisiónThe Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
: 1997–98 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2000–01
- Segunda División