Two weeks after the dismissal of Domingo Catoira and one week after the return to work of Luis García's men, Espanyol announced yesterday the hiring of Fran Garagarza (57 years old, Mutriku) as the new sports director. A soccer man, successful during his time at Eibar, where he was between 2007 and 2021, the Basque signed for four seasons to build a team against the clock that is capable of returning to the First Division this year. The agreement with Garagarza took place weeks ago, in parallel with the departure of the Catoira club, but it has not been able to be announced until now because he had to disassociate himself from Wolverhampton, where he arrived as technical adviser to Julen Lopetegui last November.
Garagarza's career in the elite began unexpectedly. For a long time, football was nothing more than a hobby for him, who worked as a transporter and trained in the afternoons. It was after promoting Elgoibar to the Third Division when Eibar, then in Second B, gave him a chance. The one from Mutriku decided to park the van with which he delivered to implement what would eventually be known as the 'Garagarza method'. In three years he led Eibar to the First Division, where he kept it for seven more.
Among his most successful signings at that time, Dani García stands out, today at Athletic and whom he recruited in his first year, he also gave the alternative in the First Division to an unknown Morales, then at Levante B. Later he opted for Yuri Berchiche and Ander Capa and he was right with Borja Bastón, who scored 18 goals in the First Division. Lejeune, Pedro León, Inui, Escalante or Sergi Enrich performed at a high level. But it was Joan Jordan, signed for a million euros and sold for 18 to Sevilla, the player who brought him fame. Then Cucurella or Rubén Peña would come. By then, Garagarza was considered 'the man of miraculous transfers'.
The effectiveness of his method, he normally signed Second Division players with projection and at a low cost, made him a trend in football gossip in recent years. Being consistent with the type of club and with the idea of the game and getting it right when it came to knowing which players could be revalued and sold were his maxims. For this, the level of detail when it comes to knowing a footballer before signing him had to be extraordinary. He analyzed potential signings with five levels that they had to overcome. From the car they drove or the watch they wore, to their family situation. Everything was decisive to make the best decision. Discreet and introverted, Garagarza also defends a comprehensive management model where everything is connected, and in which all the sports part follows one line, from grassroots football to women's football.
Two seasons ago he left Eibar, but he did not find succulent offers on the market, until last November he left with Julen Lopetegui for Wolverhampton as the coach's personal scouter. Both are from Guipúzcoa and were born the same year.
With the incorporation of Garagarza, Espanyol seeks to stabilize the up to now shifting waters of its sports management. Since Chen Yansheng became president of the entity, in January 2016, five technicians have already held the post: Ángel Gómez, Jordi Lardín, Óscar Perarnau, Rufete and Domingo Catoira, in addition to Garagarza. The four years of commitment seek to provide the club with stability in that area. But his task in this first year will be crucial, together with the current technician, in which several weeks have already been consumed that could be crucial for the success of the project.
For the time being, his duties include ensuring the continuity of Sergi Darder, who is currently waiting for the club to explain what the new project will be. Also the renewal of Nico Melamed and of course the signings, such as those that could come from Real Madrid B, once the white subsidiary has not been promoted.
