Castro y Corberán, parallel paths from academia to LaLiga dugouts | OneFootball

Levante and Valencia turned to unknowns amid crises, appointing Luís Castro on 20 December and Carlos Corberán on 25 December. AS reports both took the hard road to the elite.

Neither played at elite level, both studied sports science as they began coaching. Castro says the journey is longer for non-professionals, though he feels it leaves you prepared.

Castro rose from Portuguese grassroots to Vizela’s under-17s, then moved to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia to focus fully on coaching. He led the under-15s and coordinated the academy, while Corberán also worked there before his 2016 chance at Doxa Katokopias.

Corberán joined Villarreal’s set-up at 23, worked with Villarreal C and the reserves, then joined Juan Carlos Garrido’s staff in 2010. After Cyprus came Leeds under-23s, Bielsa’s bench, Huddersfield, Olympiacos and West Brom before Valencia. He replaced Rubén Baraja and, under Mestalla scrutiny, his future is tied to Ron Gourlay’s resolve if results do not improve.

Back in Portugal he returned to Vitória Guimarães, soon leading the academy and supplying multiple youth internationals. A brief stop at Panetolikos preceded Benfica, where he guided a leading academy to Youth League and Intercontinental titles.

He then took Dunkerque, saving them first season. Next year they won at Brest and Lille in the Coupe de France, led PSG 2-0 in a semi-final, and lost the play-off final to Metz. Nantes hired him, a short Ligue 1 stay ended on 11 December, and Levante moved after Julián Calero’s exit, a strong fit.

Source: AS