Eder Sarabia leaves Elche to take charge of Espanyol

“We have been immensely happy,” Eder Sarabia said as he said goodbye to Elche before joining Espanyol. He succeeds sacked Manolo González and takes charge of a team in the relegation places, freshly eliminated from the Copa by Sestao River of Segunda RFEF.

The appointment calls for a swift response, with Espanyol’s first task being to move clear of the relegation zone. The club’s sporting director, Monchi, told the media that Sarabia was, in his view, the coach best suited to the squad and capable of reversing its results trend. He acknowledged that Sarabia’s possession-based style would take longer to establish, but believes the team has players able to adapt to it.

Monchi set out the immediate priority: “Getting out of the relegation zone is the most urgent thing.” He said the club would then seek to lay foundations for the medium and long term, with a distinct identity and playing philosophy. Sarabia has signed a contract until June 2028.

The new coach will not be able to direct the team from the touchline immediately. Monchi said Sarabia was already registered as a coach in LaLiga and would serve one match of suspension at Villarreal, followed by another against Deportivo. His first appearance in the dugout is scheduled for Bilbao, against Athletic.

The move follows a significant spell at Elche. Sarabia chose to leave with a year remaining on his contract. He had taken the team from Segunda to safety in the top flight. This is his first coaching job since leaving Elche in May, after securing survival at Girona.

His return to the dugout has drawn mixed reactions from Elche supporters: some have thanked him for his work and wished him well, while others have questioned the reasons he gave for leaving Martínez Valero. A reunion with Elche is due in the second half of the season, when Espanyol visit Martínez Valero.

Monchi also defended the way Manolo González’s departure was handled. He said he had wanted to give González full confidence and support, while acknowledging that results did not improve and that the decision was “partly a personal failure”. He said the news was delivered in the dressing room, in a conversation he described as warm, rather than beside the team bus.

On Sarabia, Monchi said the process accelerated after González was told he had been dismissed. He said he believed the new coach could turn results around, while stressing that avoiding relegation must come before broader ambitions.