First team

DON JOAQUÍN RETURNS HOME TO SEVILLA

28/04/2018
The Utrera born coach returns to what was his home from 2000 to 2005 - a period which saw the team return to the Primera División and consolidate in European competition. One of the determinant coaches in the history of the Nervionenses - one who has seen the side through more matches than any other (226)

Joaquín Caparrós returns home nearly 13 years after announcing his departure from Sevilla FC at the end of the 04/05 season. The Utrera-born coach returns to Sevilla, with a history of one of the Club's most important managers. Leading the team for five seasons, in a period which saw an ascension from the Segunda División to Europe, Caparrós led the side for two consecutive seasons in European competition - something which had only previously been achieved under Manolo Cardo at the start of the eighties. He also boasts the record of the most Primera División matches overseen (495) of all active coaches in Spain and the sixth most managed in La Liga in history. 

Only Unai Emery has surpassed his 102 wins as Sevilla coach

Caparrós comes as something of an institution in the Sevilla dugout, having led more Nervionense First Team matches than any other coach in history. With a record of 226 matches, until recently he also held the record for most wins as Sevilla manager with 102. This would eventually surpassed by Unai Emery in April 2016. Moreover, it was through Caparrós that Sevilla finally returned to the Spanish top-flight, achieving promotion in the coach's very first season in charge. After just missing out on a historic qualification spot for the Champions League, Caparrós announced his departure from Nervión - opting to join Deportivo de la Coruña.

After first appearing on the scene in the 99/00 season - joining a team that was for all intents and purposes relegated to the Segunda División - the Club confirmed his arrival, whilst looking for a challenging return to the first division through a tandem of Caparrós and Monchi in the face of difficult financial problems. With the best managerial start in the Club's history (five wins and one draw), Sevilla were in the race right from the start. Eventually achieving promotion in the penultimate game of the season - with a goal from Podestá against CD Tenerife - Caparrós would go on to hit the ground running in the top-flight, winning 53 points and finishing just one place of qualifying for the Europa League. 

Returning Sevilla to the Primera División in his first season, he also managed two consecutive European qualifications

He wouldn't leave the progression of the team there and put into action a strategy of signing cheap and selling on that allowed the Club to make the leap to continental competition. After finishing 10th in the 2002/03 season, a long-awaited UEFA Cup qualification would come one season later, with a memorable goal from Baptista in the season's final game against Osasuna. With European football in the bag, the Utrerian would sign off in his final season by taking Sevilla to the last-16 of the second biggest Club competition in Europe and managing another qualification for the same competition through a sixth place finish. The coach would reach the Club's 100th anniversary season but eventually announce his intention to leave after falling just one point short of a Champions League spot. 

He didn't hesitate in getting back onto the managerial ladder, taking charge of Deportivo in the 05/06 season. There he would achieve an 8th place finish, in a club that had started to see a decline from their glorious achievements of the start of the century. Though Caparrós' arrival allowed a reshaping of the Club's philosophies and a far more prominent role given to the Deportivo academy, his second season would prove far more challenging and would force the club to focus on avoiding relegation - something it would end up achieving. With two seasons under the belt, Caparrós would then move on to Athletic Bilbao. Being an academy coach through and through, with Athletic, Caparrós had the opportunity to get the best of a young squad. With players such as Llorente, Javi Martínez and Iker Muniain, he would stabilise in his first season, before making history in his second.

In 2009, to delight of the Basque Club's supporters, Caparrós would lead Athletic to a Copa del Rey final - eliminating Sevilla FC in the semi-finals. Competing in the side's first final in 24 years, he would fall to a 4-1 defeat to FC Barcelona in the Mestalla. Despite finishing 13th in the league, the cup success allowed him to achieve a third European qualification as a coach. This led him to extend his contract and to finish 6th and 8th with Athletic in the following two seasons. However, a change in Chairman at the club meant Caparrós would not be able to continue as the coach of the Basque side.

His last run as manager was with Al Ahli of Qatar, where he was forced to leave for personal reasons at the end of last year

After a bad experience with Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland - where he started in October 2011 - he would move to RCD Mallorca after the departure of Michael Laudrup. With an average points tally worthy of a Champions League side, the side managed to avoid relegation with four games to spare in the 11/12 season. This meant a renovation for Caparrós but after a bad run of results he would eventually be dismissed in February 2013. He wouldn't stay out of management long, leading Levante UD to a respectable 10th place in the 13/14 season but not renewing with the Valencia club. 

From there he would move to Granada CF, where despite a good start, he would leave by January 2015. His next destination would be CA Osasuna, where he would stay in charge for three months - ultimately unable to overturn a difficult situation for the Club. His last stint in management was with Al Ahli of Qatar, who he would carry to a sixth-place finish before leaving for personal reasons.