Espanyol sack Manolo Gonzalez after Copa del Rey shock defeat to fourth-tier side

Barcelona: Espanyol coach Manolo Gonzalez was fired on Tuesday, hours after his side was knocked out of the Spanish Cup in the first round by a fourth-tier team.

The 47-year-old Gonzalez was already under pressure after Espanyol started the season with six losses in 10 league matches to leave it 18th in La Liga.

Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Sestao River, after extra time, proved to be the final straw.


"RCD Espanyol have decided to bring Manolo Gonzalez's tenure as coach of the club to an end," the club said in a statement.

"The two parties part ways after more than three seasons and 107 official games in charge of the first team, a period during which he left his personal and professional mark, both on the pitch and in the team's day-to-day operations."

Gonzalez took charge of Espanyol in March 2024 and led it straight to promotion to the top flight.

No replacement has been named yet. Espanyol's next match is on Friday, at Villarreal.