Irureta takes leave of Deportivo

First title
The 57-year-old arrived at the Riazor in 1998, having guided Depor's Galician rivals RC Celta de Vigo to sixth place in the Primera División. It took him just two years to steer the team to their first and only league title as Deportivo held off FC Barcelona to win the Spanish championship by a five-point margin in the 1999/00 season. That achievement marked the start of a four-year spell during which Deportivo never finished outside the top three.

Profile boosted
Irureta's reputation also grew on the European stage. Depor reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in two successive campaigns, only to be eliminated by Leeds United AFC in 2000/01 and Manchester United FC the following season. They went one better in 2003/04, progressing to the last four only to be denied a place in the final by eventual winners FC Porto.

Dip in form
However, the 2004/05 campaign was a huge disappointment in comparison, with Deportivo's first XI plagued by injury problems. The team failed to advance from the Champions League group stage without scoring a single goal in six matches and on the domestic front, a late spurt was not enough to take the side above eighth place.