Caparrós takes over at Athletic

Mané replacement
José Manuel Esnal, nicknamed 'Mané', decided to step down after Athletic, who have been ever-present in Spain's top-flight, finished just one point above the relegation zone last season. Caparrós himself left RC Deportivo La Coruña after the team finished 13th in the 20-team division. He had previously coached RC Recreativo de Huelva and Villarreal CF, though it was at Sevilla that his reputation as a manager grew. The 51-year-old spent five years at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and, after guiding the club to promotion in his first season, he guided them to finishes in the top half of the table for each campaign thereafter.

Aitor Ocio move
He also signed Aitor Ocio in summer 2003 from Athletic and has ensured a return to San Mames stadium for the experienced defender, capturing him for an undisclosed fee. The 30-year-old, who was born in nearby Alava spent two seasons with the Basque side prior to joining Sevilla where, over four seasons, he made 64 league appearances scoring three goals. In that time he won two UEFA Cups, a UEFA Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. Details of his move will be revealed after his presentation at the club tomorrow.