Hugo Sánchez back in Spain with Almería

Former Real Madrid CF and Mexico striker Hugo Sánchez has returned to Spain to replace Gonzalo Arconada as coach of UD Almería, with the club saying that they have hired "a coach who has great charisma".

Contract incentive
The 50-year-old has been charged with avoiding relegation with Almería, who lie 16th in the 20-team Liga, with the club offering the incentive of a one-year contract if he is successful. A club statement read: "UD Almería have banked on a coach who has great charisma, who experienced everything as a player and who now wants to succeed as a manager in Spanish football."

Coaching experience
Sánchez has been looking for a new challenge since being dismissed from his dual role as coach of the Mexico senior and Under-23 teams following his failure to lead the latter to the Olympics this summer. Prior to that spell with Mexico, which ran from November 2006 to March 2008, Sánchez coached Club Universidad Nacional to successive Mexican titles and also led Club Necaxa.

'Pentapichichi'
However, it was as a player that he really shone. First arriving in Europe with Club Atlético de Madrid in 1981, he switched to join Real Madrid in 1985, scoring 164 goals in 207 league games and winning five successive titles as well as the 1985/86 UEFA Cup. He was also Spain's top league scorer in his final season at Atlético and his first four with Madrid, earning him the nickname 'Pentapichichi'. He also later played for Rayo Vallecano and LASK Linz in Europe, finally retiring in 1998.