Making the Grade: Five new La Liga coaches evaluated

By Liam Bambridge
Updated: 6 April, 2012

5. Abel Resino (Granada)

Resino’s only previous experience in the top flight before being appointed Granada coach was with Atletico, a club where he had already been ‘goalkeeper, goalkeeping coach and sporting director before getting the top job. As with most ‘rojiblanco’ head coaches, he did not keep it for long, lasting just eight months between February and October 2009.

When the Andalusian side came calling in January, having made the difficult decision to replace double promotion winner Fabri, it was common knowledge that they had already tried and failed to entice Juan Anquela away from Segunda Division side Alcorcon. Resino initially seemed to have silenced the doubters with three wins from his first four games in charge, but since then it has been rather tougher for him. A run of five defeats out of six sent ‘Graná’ hurtling towards the danger zone, before that very welcome triumph in Santander last weekend.

Nevertheless there is plenty to do before the club’s supporters can look forward to a second campaign back in the top flight. A crucial trip to la Romareda to take on Zaragoza is looming on the horizon, and they are the only one of the bottom five sides who still have to face Real Madrid. Unless they survive, there will be many who will question the wisdom of replacing a club legend on the back of three successive defeats at the start of 2012, one at the Bernabeu, despite the fact that he had ended 2011 with four wins and two draws from the last seven games.

El Centrocampista rating: C

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