CORNERFLICK
Espanyol have sacked Manolo Gonzalez after a run of poor results left the club under pressure in La Liga and out of the Copa del Rey to fourth-tier Sestao.
Results that pushed the decision
The dismissal follows a string of results that included Espanyol's elimination by Sestao in the first round of the cup, making them the first La Liga side out of this season's Copa del Rey. The defeat was the final blow after a difficult spell in which the club won only one of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
A bleak start to 2026
Gonzalez leaves after Espanyol failed to win any of their first 18 matches in 2026. That sequence brought six draws and 12 defeats, and set a club record for the longest winless run in Espanyol's history.
In their recent league and cup fixtures, Espanyol lost to Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Rayo Vallecano, Elche, Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander, drew with Sevilla and Malaga, and beat Osasuna once. The club said the results were enough to end Gonzalez's spell in charge.