Football
Adriana Garcia 7y

Cruz Azul's Paco Jemez: I had an offer to manage club in Dubai

New Cruz Azul coach Paco Jemez has revealed that he turned down an offer to coach a team in Dubai shortly after being dismissed by Granada in September.

The 46-year-old signed a one-year contract with Cruz Azul on Tuesday to become the first Spaniard to manage Los Celestes in the club's 89-year history.

Jemez told Cadena Ser: "Cruz Azul and the Mexican league give me the ambition and the tools to compete at the highest level. I wanted to be challenged and their competitive project has convinced me. It's going to demand a lot from me and that is what I wanted."

Jemez was dismissed by Granada on Sept. 28, just three months into his three-year contract, and he could have then moved to the Middle East.

"One week after I left Granada, I had an offer from a Dubai team which I will not name," he said. "I thanked them but I had to turn it down. It wasn't the time nor the offer I expected."

Jemez, who spent four years at Rayo Vallecano before joining Granada in the summer, is excited to have his first coaching experience outside of Spain.

"Cruz Azul is one of the top teams in Mexico," he said. "They haven't won a title for some time [since 1997] but they have a big fan following and a strong project."

Las Palmas-born Jemez was sacked by Granada following the club's worst start to a season since the 1944-45 campaign. Granada had taken two points from their opening six games and were 19th in the La Liga standings.

At Cruz Azul, a club based in Mexico City, Jemez will guide a team made up of all Spanish-speaking players. That is in contrast to Granada, where 15 of the 28 squad members did not speak the language.

"That is important," Jemez said. "It makes it easier that when you speak you are understood. Now there will be no excuse for the language. I will also take my coaching staff. There are four of us in total."

Jemez confirmed that Spanish midfielder Victor Vazquez has left Cruz Azul by mutual consent.

Vazquez, a youth product of Barcelona, had signed a three-year contract with the club a year ago after four seasons at Club Brugge.

"He hasn't adapted and the best solution for him was not to continue," Jemez said. "He has decided to rescind his contract."

Jemez will travel to Mexico on Friday with Cruz Azul starting preseason on Dec. 4. The Liga MX Clausura begins on Jan. 7, 2017.

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