Valverde walks out on Espanyol
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Article summary
Ernesto Valverde has resigned as RCD Espanyol coach after two years in charge and following a steep decline in fortunes in the latter half of the 2007/08 campaign.
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Miserable spring
Beaten UEFA Cup finalists in 2006/07, the Barcelona-based side started superbly this season, sitting third in the Primera División after 18 games and in sight of a return to European competition. However, a miserable spring saw them slide down to 12th in the table, prompting the 44-year-old former Espanyol, FC Barcelona, Athletic Club Bilbao and RCD Mallorca forward to quit.
'A good decision'
Valverde masterminded Espanyol's journey to the UEFA Cup final during his first term in office at the Olímpico de Montjuic, having succeeded Miguel Ángel Lotina. His team lost to Sevilla FC on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Hampden Park, Glasgow. "It is a good decision for me and for Espanyol," he said of his resignation. "It hurts to leave but I'm going with the gratitude of a lot of people at the club, starting with the president [Daniel Sánchez Libre]."