Mallorca presents Joaquin Caparros as new coach
AP, Tuesday 4 Oct 2011
Veteran coach Joaquin Caparros has taken charge of Mallorca following the stormy departure of Michael Laudrup


The Spanish coach was officially presented on Tuesday after signing a contract to coach the Mediterranean club for the rest of this season.

The 55-year-old Caparros said his coaching philosophy is based on hard work.

"To achieve our goals we have to focus on the day to day," Caparros said. "With energy, collective effort and unity, nobody in this league should be able to beat us.

Each game, the goal is to earn three points, regardless of the adversary." Caparros acknowledged the institutional crisis that has shaken Mallorca since Laudrup resigned last week over differences with club vice president Lorenzo Serra Ferrer and the financially troubled club's transfer policy.

"We have seven points and need peace in the club," Caparros said. "Peace and unity are important ... what is clear is that we have to think and act as a team, and that includes executives, players, fans, media, to make Mallorca great." The Danish coach's exit provoked a public rift among members of Mallorca's executive board that culminated on Monday with the family of tennis star Rafael Nadal announcing it was leaving the board.

The Nadal family holds a 10 percent stake in the club, and for the time being has not indicated whether it will seek to sell its share.

Miguel Angel Nadal, an uncle of Rafael Nadal and a former Spain international, took over as caretaker coach following Laudrup's departure and led the 10th-place Mallorca to a 2-2 draw at Osasuna last weekend in the Spanish league.

Serra Ferrer said that the former Barcelona defender will meet with Caparros on Wednesday to determine his new role with the club.

Mallorca is one of several of Spain's topflight clubs that is in bankruptcy protection and must have a court-appointed board of administrators agree to all signings.

There had been serious doubts from within the club that the administrators would agree to bringing in Caparros, but in the end Serra Ferrer got the deal done.

Caparros coached Athletic Bilbao for four seasons, leading the Basques to the Copa del Rey final in 2009, before a brief stint with Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax that ended with his firing after five weeks earlier this season.

He has also managed Deportivo La Coruna, Sevilla and Villarreal, among other clubs.

Caparros will have extra time because of international fixtures to prepare Mallorca for its upcoming game against fifth-place Valencia on Oct. 15 at Iberostar stadium.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/23355.aspx