Osasuna manager confirms exit in summer despite European challenge | OneFootball

Osasuna manager Vicente Moreno has confirmed that he will not be in charge next season, with just three games to go in the season. The announcement comes despite the fact that Osasuna are battling to qualify for European football next season.

Moreno was chosen to come in at El Sadar, tasked with the unenviable job of replacing Jagoba Arrasate following a six-year spell at the club. He was only given a one-year contract though, and as the season end has drawn closer, and with no sign of a new contract on offer, uncertainty over his future was on the rise.

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The Valencian manager has headed off that speculation though ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid though, announcing his departure.

“I can tell you that these will be my last two home games in charge of Osasuna. I would love to, and I’ll give everything I have to take this team to Europe. It would be the icing on the cake, and we have that opportunity.”

“It’s a decision we’ve taken independently of whether we qualify for Europe. It’s a decision that I’ve been thinking over, that I felt I had to take, and the club know it. I didn’t want to have to speak about it at the end of the season, and I’m very grateful to the club,” he remarked, explaining that he had made the call this week.

Osasuna in the hunt for Conference League

Osasuna currently lie two points off eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano, which will be good enough for a Conference League spot. Currently in 11th, with Atletico Madrid visiting El Sadar on Thursday. Although they are mathematically in the hunt for the Europa League, Celta Vigo opened up a seven-point gap on Tuesday with three to play for Los Rojillo, the latter two being against Espanyol and Alaves.

Replacement lined up?

Earlier in the season it was speculated that Osasuna could move for Rayo’s Inigo Perez, who was at one time a player at El Sadar, following his good work in Vallecas. That was shut down after Perez signed a one-year extension with Rayo though.

According to Diario AS, Alessio Lisci is the man best-placed to take over from Moreno. The Italian coach made his senior debut at Levante, but took over Mirandes two years ago, and has done a fine job at Anduva. The 39-year-old currently has Mirandes in third in Segunda, and fighting for automatic promotion to La Liga.

Winless runs for Moreno

Osasuna went on a lengthy winless run between November and February without a win in La Liga, following a strong start to life in Pamplona. Moreno’s side then struggled for a further nine games without victory. That said, Moreno would no doubt have reached his objective if he had qualified Los Rojillo for Europe.