CAPARRÓS EQUALLED CARDO'S FIRST DIVISION RECORD AGAINST ALAVÉS THIS SATURDAY

Joaquín Caparrós has always been a superstitious man but never would have predicted that exactly 13 years after he said goodbye to his lifelong team, destiny would have something so special in store for him. The Utrera-born coach left Sevilla at the end of the 2004/05 season, only days after missing out on his dream of putting Sevilla in the Champions League. With tears in his eyes, Caparrós said goodbye in the press room in search of new challenges which he would end up finding weeks later with La Coruña. But as is so often said, football always gives new opportunities and his would eventually come on the 28th of April just after the dismissal of Vincenzo Montella. 

With Sevilla out of the European spots, Caparrós returned home with the responsibility of ensuring European football for one year more. With only four opportunities to make a difference, including a demanding home fixture against Real Madrid and the challenge of going away to face Real Betis needing one point at least, Caparrós only needed three games to get the job done - assuring the 14th European qualification for Sevilla in 15 seasons. The character that seemed to have faded was born again just in time for individuals who needed a confidence boost and within a group that needed to enjoy their football again. 

The character that seemed to have faded was born again just in time for individuals who needed a confidence boost and within a group that needed to enjoy their football again

After a prolific first term in Nervión, Caparrós has been able to round off some more than impressive statistics when in charge of the First Team. In fact, in this second term, he has been able to go one step further - not only hanging with the figures of some of the greatest managers to grace the Club but now overtaking them. Following Saturday's fixture with Deportivo Alavés, he can now boast 499 games in charge of a Primera División side, making him the manager with the sixth highest number of first division games managed in history.

He now also can boast more Primera games managed than any other Andalusian coach - leaving Gregorio Manzano long in his wake with just 411 games by comparison. Perhaps more significantly, though, taking the reigns this Saturday, Caparrós has been able to reach the height of club legend Manolo Cardo in the record books as well. Now with 156 games in charge of the Nervionenses in the top-flight, he levels Cardo, and sits ahead of Emery (133) and Helenio Herrera (119) who represent the only two other manager's to stockpile more wins than Caparrós in Sevilla history.