Oviedo Turns to Almada in Desperate Survival Bid
Guillermo Almada takes the reins at struggling Real Oviedo after an intense negotiation with Valladolid, as Pachuca Group backs their former manager to save the season.
Oviedo’s Managerial Merry-Go-Round Continues
The uncertainty at Carlos Tartiere is finally over. Real Oviedo have appointed Guillermo Almada as their third manager this season, replacing Luis Carrión in what’s becoming a rather desperate attempt to salvage their campaign.
The Uruguayan tactician will take immediate charge at El Requexón and make his debut this Saturday against Celta. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end!
Pachuca Connection Proves Decisive
This appointment has Pachuca Group’s fingerprints all over it. Jesús Martínez, the big cheese at Pachuca, along with his trusted advisor Rafael Monge, pushed hard for their former manager and agreed to Valladolid’s demands to get the deal over the line.
The agreement includes a significant compensation package of €400,000, which Oviedo will pay in installments to avoid further straining their already tight wage budget. Bit of a pretty penny for a club in their position, but the brass clearly feel it’s worth the investment.
Why Almada?
Martínez’s faith in Almada stems from their successful partnership at Pachuca between 2021 and 2025. During this period, Almada:
- Won multiple trophies
- Developed young academy talent
- Built a strong reputation within the Mexican group
- Established complete trust with Martínez
His recent stint at Valladolid wasn’t quite as rosy, though. After 18 matches, the team was middling in the table, and fans were getting restless - even calling for his departure during last weekend’s match.
Massive Challenge Ahead
Almada isn’t exactly walking into a cake walk. The situation at Oviedo is proper Adam and Eve (believe), with:
- A divided fanbase
- The team sitting five points from safety
- A squad likely needing major January surgery
- Limited European football experience to draw upon
The club is banking on Almada to right the ship before it’s too late, but he’ll need to hit the ground running faster than a greyhound out of the traps.
Interestingly, this deal might also facilitate Kenedy’s permanent move to Pachuca for around €1 million, according to reports - suggesting there might be more to this managerial switch than meets the eye.