|
Deportivo La Coruna have appointed former West Brom boss Pepe Mel as their new manager on Tuesday, one day after the club terminated the contract of Gaizka Garitano. Mel joins the club in the wake of Depor's 4-0 defeat at Leganes, their fourth straight league loss which left the La Coruna-based outfit 17th in La Liga, one place and two points above the drop zone. A club statement said: "Pepe Mel has become the new RC Deportivo coach until the end of the season, with an option to extend the contract." Under Garitano, Depor won just four of their 23 league games this season and had not tasted victory in La Liga since a 2-1 triumph over bottom-side Osasuna on Dec. 19. "I've come here to help and to give the confidence the players need," Mel said on Monday, as reported in Marca. "They have to believe in themselves. The only way to come out of this situation is to believe in what you do. "It was difficult to say no to Depor. I'm enthusiastic, we have good players." Mel, 54, had been out of a job since being dismissed by Real Betis in January 2016. It was his second spell in charge of the Andalusian club, having previously been Betis manager from 2010 until December 2013. Depor will be Mel's 11th club since starting out at Madrid amateur side Coslada in 1999. He managed seven clubs in six years -- Coslada, Merida, Murcia, Tenerife, Getafe, Alaves and Polideportivo Ejido -- before a four-year spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano prior to his move to Betis in 2010. Mel spent five months in charge of West Brom in 2014 before returning to guide Betis later that year. His first game in charge will be at home to Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
|
