Espanyol hand Márquez the reins

Primera División outfit RCD Espanyol have promoted Bartolomé Márquez to the position of coach following Ernesto Valverde's departure for Olympiacos CFP.

'Continuity'
The 46-year-old former Espanyol player has been on the coaching staff at the Barcelona-based club since 1999, and has assisted predecessors Miguel Ángel Lotina and Valverde for the past four seasons. Valverde resigned as coach last week to join the Greek champions after two seasons at the helm, the first of which ended in a UEFA Cup final defeat by Sevilla FC. "[The appointment] was a unanimous decision by the board after listening to the technical evaluation of the sports director," director general Pedro Tomas told the club's website. "It will ensure the continuity of our policy of developing youth team players and other young players who want to succeed at Espanyol."