Football Season Guide

A brilliant season in the Segunda Division was not enough for Jose Bordalas to keep his job. Despite the fact that Alaves were promoted as Segunda champions, sealing a return to the top flight of Spanish football after an absence of longer than a decade, the Alicante-born manager did not have his contract renewed at the Mendizorrotza. Understandably, he felt he had performed with sufficient merit to earn an extension, but the board opted to release him and their choice to replace him is Mauricio Pellegrino, who joins from Argentinean club Independiente. Pellegrino has experience of one previous La Liga posting, enduring an ill-fated half season at Valencia which ended with his sacking in December 2012. Alaves return to the Primera Division for the first time since suffering relegation in 2003. After a 13 year absence, the Babazorros have shown serious intent to consolidate their position in the top flight by bringing in a dozen players to refresh what was already a successful playing squad. The only doubt perhaps is whether they have changed too much this summer, given the managerial switch and the big turnover in playing personnel. Not too much money has been spent; most of the recruits are either on loan or were free agents, but there is plenty of Primera Division experience coming in. The main changes are in attack, where Deyverson is expected to lead the line after suffering relegation with Levante last term, despite a satisfactory personal return. Ibai Gomez and Ruben Sobrino will operate in the wide attacking roles, either side of last season’s main play-maker Manu Berreiro. Ibai Gomez’s career at Athletic Bilbao was plagued by injury but he showed glimpses of technical brilliance. Mauricio Pellegrino will be hoping that Ruben Sobrino, coming in on loan from Premier League giants Manchester City, will be one of the young revelations of the season in La Liga. This is an attacking team. With Kiko Femenia at right back and leader Raul Garcia at left back, you can expect them to overlap continuously. The objective is to stay up. Mauricio Pellegrino has much to prove with barely four years of managerial experience under his belt but he has a group of players at the right age and with plenty still to prove at this level. Five out of the last six Segunda Division champions still ply their trade in La Liga, which is a positive trend Alaves will be hoping to follow. That doesn’t stop them from being one of the early favourites to go down, but it is encouraging none the less.