Monchi: “Espanyol has what it takes to stay up” – RCD Espanyol
A major move at RCD Espanyol: While the team battles to secure its top-flight status on the pitch, with crucial matches against Athletic Club, CA Osasuna, and Real Sociedad ahead, the club has officially announced the appointment of Monchi as its new general sporting director. The experienced executive from Cádiz, widely regarded as one of Europe’s most respected figures in football management, will now lead all sporting operations at the Barcelona-based club.
In a statement released on Monday, Espanyol emphasized that “Monchi’s arrival strengthens the club’s sporting structure with one of the most recognized and prestigious executives in European football.” It also clarified that while the various sporting departments will retain their current executive leadership, they will now report to “the new General Sports Management led by the former Sevilla executive.”
The club further explained that “on an organizational level, Monchi will report directly to CEO Mao Ye Wu and to Alan Pace, Espanyol’s president and the top representative of Velocity Sports Partners/ALK Capital, the investment group behind the club.”
Espanyol highlighted Monchi’s career path, noting that he began his journey at Sevilla in July 2000, where he became one of the most influential figures in modern sporting management. His first tenure lasted 17 consecutive seasons, followed by a return between 2019 and 2023. “Considered one of the main architects of the most successful period in Sevilla FC’s history,” the statement read, Monchi played a “decisive role in building a project that won 11 titles between 2006 and 2023.” His trophy haul includes seven UEFA Europa League titles, two Copas del Rey, one UEFA Super Cup, one Spanish Super Cup, and a promotion to La Liga.
After his Sevilla stint, the Andalusian also held roles at AS Roma and Aston Villa, where he contributed to projects that consistently competed for European spots and regularly featured in continental tournaments such as the Champions League and Europa League.
With this appointment, Espanyol takes another step in restructuring its sporting department, betting on a figure of broad international recognition to lead its future project. The club hopes to compete in La Liga next season—but for that, it must secure points in the upcoming fixtures and end a streak of 18 consecutive league games without a win.
