Real Zaragoza confirm Ibai Gómez as head coach | OneFootball

Real Zaragoza confirmed on Thursday that Ibai Gómez will take charge after relegation to Primera Federación, tasking him with returning the former Cup Winners' Cup winners to Segunda División. He had been spotted at the club’s Ciudad Deportiva in recent days.

His deal is for this season with an option for a further two. In his first message, he called for passion, energy and commitment, stressing respect for the badge and hard work to reawaken supporters.

After retiring as a Deportivo player, Gómez began with Santutxu’s División de Honor youth side, the club from his neighbourhood that his father Mitxelo once chaired.

He then led the Dominican Republic at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the team impressed but fell short of the second round.

Next came Arenas in Segunda Federación, and Getxo’s side earned promotion to Primera Federación, the division in which he will now manage Zaragoza.

A move to Andorra followed for his first post in professional football, a bright start giving way to a poor run that ended his spell.

Since then he has studied the game, travelling to England to observe Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola, and watching extensively across Primera, Segunda and lower tiers. Gómez will be assisted by long-time colleague Iñigo Larriqueta, known as Larri, as assistant coach, with David Vinatea also joining the staff.

Source: El Correo