Espanyol Dismisses Manolo González After Shock Copa del Rey Defeat

RCD Espanyol parted ways with head coach Manolo González on October 27, 2026, abruptly ending his tenure following an unexpected 4-3 defeat against lower-tier Sestao River in the Copa del Rey. The decision to dismiss the Galician manager was finalized within an hour of the final whistle, concluding a spell of more than three seasons and 107 official matches at the helm of the Barcelona-based club.

The elimination against Sestao River, a side competing three tiers below Espanyol in Spain's Segunda Federación, proved to be the decisive blow for club leadership. Sestao secured the upset with a goal in the 121st minute of extra time, exposing defensive frailties as Espanyol conceded four times against an underdog opponent. The humiliating cup exit instantly exhausted the remaining patience of the club's sporting directors.

The cup failure also mirrored severe struggles in the domestic league, where Espanyol currently occupies 18th place in LaLiga inside the relegation zone. Through the opening 10 rounds of the season, the team managed only two victories and two draws alongside six defeats. The squad had not collected three points since defeating Osasuna on September 12, subsequently enduring a difficult slump that featured five losses and a single draw.

Beyond the sporting results, the circumstances surrounding the departure immediately sparked sharp controversy in Spanish sports media. Television presenter Josep Pedrerol of 'El Chiringuito de Jugones' criticized the manner in which the termination was delivered, reporting that González was informed of his dismissal right before boarding the team bus after the match. Pedrerol argued that handling a managerial exit in such immediate fashion showed a lack of professional sensitivity.

Comparing the situation to Ronald Koeman's previous dismissal by FC Barcelona during an airplane flight, Pedrerol described the treatment of González as even worse. "Koeman was fired on the plane, that was not right," Pedrerol remarked, emphasizing that dismissing González prior to boarding the team bus represented a breakdown in proper procedure. The commentator underscored that while club directors have the authority to make coaching changes, basic respect toward professionals must be preserved.

Espanyol acknowledged González's historical contributions in an official statement released by president Alan Pace and the board of directors. González originally took charge of the senior squad in March 2024 after replacing Luis Miguel Ramis, orchestrating promotion back to the top flight through the playoffs. Across two complete top-flight campaigns, he secured survival despite limited financial resources. On September 7, he achieved his 100th match in charge against Sevilla, becoming the ninth manager in Espanyol history to hit that milestone and the first to do so since Mauricio Pochettino.

Sporting director Monchi has assumed control of the transition as the club prepares to navigate a tight calendar ahead of a critical league encounter against Villarreal on Friday. Monchi is actively advancing negotiations to finalize the legal paperwork for González's release while pursuing Julen Lopetegui, the current manager of the Qatar national team, as the top candidate to take over the managerial post.