Sellés silencing the doubters at Real Zaragoza
How the unknown English-based coach is working minor miracles with limited resources at Real Zaragoza, including a stunning victory against league leaders Racing Santander.
From complete unknown to tactical mastermind - Rubén Sellés is proving the doubters wrong in spectacular fashion at Real Zaragoza.
The unlikely appointment
When Txema Indias appointed Sellés - a coach with no previous experience in Spanish football - eyebrows were raised across Aragon. The story goes that a simple WhatsApp message kicked off the whole affair, hardly the sophisticated recruitment process you’d expect for a historic club desperate to climb out of Spain’s second tier.
But sometimes the most unexpected choices turn out to be the smartest. Despite working with a squad that’s short on quality in several areas, Sellés has kept Zaragoza competitive and, crucially, in with a fighting chance of survival.
Method to the madness
What’s most impressive about the gaffer’s approach is his methodical style combined with crystal-clear communication. There’s no smoke and mirrors with this bloke - just honest assessments delivered with absolute conviction.
He’s gradually molded the team into something with a proper identity, improving individual players while getting the collective to buy into his tactical vision. While results haven’t always gone their way (often due to profligacy in both boxes), the team has rarely been outclassed.
Tactical masterclass at El Sardinero
The away trip to league leaders Racing Santander should have been a proper banana skin, but instead became Sellés’ finest hour. He threw a tactical curveball that caught everyone on the hop:
- Deployed Ale Gomes as a makeshift right-back
- Selected Saidu at centre-back despite Radovanovic being available
- Pushed Toni Moya into a more advanced role
- Kept faith with Kenan Kodro up front
The latter decision paid dividends in spades when Kodro, who’d been having nightmares about his miss against Las Palmas the previous week, bagged a clinical hat-trick to secure all three points.
Building for the future
With 20 points from the first half of the season, Zaragoza’s survival hopes remain alive. The fanbase has warmed to Sellés to such an extent that many want him to stay regardless of what division they’re playing in next season.
The ball’s now firmly in the board’s court. Zaragoza currently have a manager who’s punching well above the squad’s weight - the brass needs to back him in the transfer market sharpish. As one local pundit put it, “Zaragoza have a better coach than squad.”
If the reinforcements arrive in time, Sellés might just pull off the great escape. If not, he’ll continue trying to make chicken soup from chicken feathers. Either way, the man deserves a proper chance.