Underwhelming

Last Friday Real Mallorca unveiled their new manager to the press, Luis García Plaza is his name. Am I the only one who is a little bit underwhelmed here? It didn’t look like there were many others in the frame though to be honest. Last week I said possibly Pep Luis Marti, who subsequently went to Leganés, who were relegated along with Mallorca and Espanyol. Also Andoni Iraola the 38 year old former Atletico Bilbao player who’d managed Mirandes to 11th last year in La Liga 2, but I questioned his experience. He has now gone to manage Rayo Vallecano. Rayo finished 7th last year, just 1 point away from the play-offs. It will be interesting to see how they both get on.

Back to Luis García, he seems to be a safe choice but his stats don’t jump out at you. Here are his managerial stats.

July 2006, Elche, won 5 of 21 games in Segunda and was sacked in January 2007.

July 2008, Levante, won 51 of 128 games, got the club promoted in his second season. He left after his third season after finishing 14th in La Liga.

June 2011, Getafe, won 34 of his 113 games, finished 11th in La Liga in his first season, 10th in his second season. He was fired in March 2014.

From July 2014 to 2018 he managed in the UAE and China.

In December 2018 he returned to La Liga with Villareal, he was subsequently fired at the end of January 2019 after just 7 weeks in charge with just 1 win in 9 games.

In July 2019 he went back to China and didn’t win any of his 11 games and his club were relegated. He’s been managing in Saudi Arabia since December 2019 winning 7 of his 13 games in charge.

I’m not seeing much in those stats to be honest apart from his spell at Levante but that was over 10 years ago. I hope I’m totally wrong and he takes Mallorca back up, but if he starts to struggle then expect him to be replaced. Espanyol who like Mallorca were relegated and then nicked our coach, replaced theirs 4 times last season! I hope Moreno knows what he’s let himself in for.

Atlético Baleares have signed goalkeeper Juan Carlos Sanchez Martinez on a free transfer from Numancia. Juan Carlos was born in Calvia, Mallorca, his parents still live in the village and he started at CD Calvia where both of my boys started. In fact when he can he goes back to the club and does the trophy presentations at the end of the season. He was at the much vaunted Villareal youth academy and he went on to play 224 games for Villareal and Villareal B between 2005 and 2015. He was in goal when they got promoted to La Liga in the 2012/13 season after winning their final game against Almeria. A game that my son Jacobs Calvia team and all the parents were invited to. He’s also played at Elche, Albacete, Real Oviedo and Numancia.

Quiet week on the UD Ibiza front but I did notice this week they have a feeder club called CF Sant Rafael del UD Ibiza. Where they bring youngsters through to play in the future. Obviously a club that want to go places.

Penya Deportiva after losing their coach have now lost their best 2 players according to Martin over in Ibiza. Pepe Bernal has joined San Fernando and Higor Rocha has joined Rayo Majadahonda.

My eldest Jake’s pre-season was delayed a week which means he starts this coming Monday. My youngest Jude continues his goalkeeper training and he starts pre-season on the 7th of September.

Episode 3 of A Kick in The Balearics will be out tomorrow on you tube and podcast. If you have any interesting stories on your local Balearic club then please get in touch and follow us on all social media.

Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online atwww.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com