FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.02.2010 10:29

Getafe’s springboard

Jesús Carrillo

Since Getafe returned to the Spanish top flight at the start of the 2004-05 campaign the majority of the club's head coaches have been newcomers to the division and have gone on to take over at even bigger outfits.

The first man to make the move from los Azulones was Quique Sáncez Flores. The former Real Madrid player won promotion with Getafe and then proved all the critics wrong by keeping the team in la Primera. After that impressive first campaign at the highest level, Sánchez Flores was offered the chance to take over at Valencia and he chose to return to the club that he also appeared for during his career.

Bernd Schuster then used Geta to prove himself in the Spanish game after leaving Levante. The German did even better than his predecessor as the club finished in ninth place, four above the 13th spot they claimed under Sánchez Flores. Schuster repeated the trick in the 2006-07 season and guided them into Europe after they reached their final of the Copa del Rey, where they were beaten by Sevilla. His time in charge at the Coliseum saw Real Madrid offer him the job of coach at the Santiago Bernabéu.

European success

Another former Barça star took the reins when Michael Laudrup joined in 2007 after a spell in charge at Brondby. In their first season in the UEFA Cup Getafe excelled as they made their way through the rounds to set up a scintillating encounter with Bayern Munich. The German side squeezed through on away goals, but Geta were proving to be a cup team that term as they reached the final of the Copa del Rey once more, only to lose out again as they were beaten by Valencia. The Danish trainer left after just one season and chose to move to the Russian league to take over at Spartak Moscow.

Míchel at the helm

Currently trying to show what he can do at Getafe is former Real Madrid playmaker Míchel who moved across the Spanish capital after stepping down as coach of los Merengues' B side, Castilla. Last term he helped keep the club in the top flight and has balanced the ship this time around.