Seven coaches are set to make their Spanish top-flight debuts while Hansi Flick aims for a third straight title and José Mourinho returns to Real Madrid
With the 2026/27 LALIGA EA SPORTS season scheduled to get underway in less than a month, all 20 teams have already kicked off their pre-season preparations as we are gearing up for another exciting campaign. The off-season is when coaches begin to mould their teams, which are gradually taking shape ahead of a demanding campaign. This summer has seen the return of José Mourinho while as many as seven coaches are set to make their LALIGA EA SPORTS debut. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Here is a look at the coaches who will be in charge of the 20 top-flight sides at the beginning of the 2026/27 campaign.
Athletic Club – Edin Terzić
The Basque side parted ways with club legend Ernesto Valverde, who has been succeeded by former Borussia Dortmund boss Terzić. The 43-year-old tactician served the Bundesliga side across two spells, winning the domestic cup in 2020/21 before leading the team to the Champions League final, where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid in 2024. Having become the second German coach to take charge of Los Leones after Jupp Heynckes, he will look to help Athletic Club return to European competitions after finishing 12th last season.
Atlético de Madrid – Diego Simeone
The longest-serving coach in the league, Simeone is set to enter his 15th full season in charge of Los Rojiblancos. The former Atlético de Madrid midfielder has led his team to eight titles, including two league trophies in 2013/14 and 2020/21. Last season, Atleti may have lost to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final but they finished fourth in the table, securing Champions League qualification for the 14th straight season.
CA Osasuna – Luis Miguel Ramis
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, CA Osasuna parted way with Alessio Lisci, who has been replaced by former Burgos CF boss Luis Miguel Ramis. Having turned Los Blanquinegros into one of the finest defences in the second tier, his side missed out on playoff participation on goal difference despite recording a club-record 72 points in LALIGA HYPERMOTION. Ramis took his first coaching steps at the famous Real Madrid academy La Fábrica before taking charge of UD Almería, Albacete Balompié, CD Tenerife and RCD Espanyol. This will be the first time in his career that he will coach a team participating in the top flight.
Deportivo Alavés – Quique Sánchez Flores
The 61-year-old coach took over at Deportivo Alavés following Eduardo Coudet’s departure in early March. He led the team to four wins and as many draws in 12 league games, finishing 14th in the table and securing safety in a relegation battle that went down to the wire. Having taken charge of more than 360 matches in the Spanish top flight, Sánchez Flores is among LALIGA EA SPORTS’ most experienced managers.
Elche CF – Martín Anselmi
The departure of Eder Sarabia after successfully keeping Elche CF in the top tier was followed by the appointment of Martín Anselmi. Having earned coaching experience in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico, the 41-year-old Argentine coach had short spells at Porto and Botafogo before joining the Spanish side this summer. One of the youngest managers in LALIGA EA SPORTS, Anselmi will look to fulfil his potential at Los Franjiverdes next term.
FC Barcelona – Hansi Flick
The German tactician enters his third season in charge of Los Azulgranas after winning five titles including back-to-back league trophies in his first two campaigns. Having been named coach of the season both in 2024/25 and 2025/26, Flick will aim to lead his team to a third consecutive league title for the first time since the period 2008-2011. It remains to be seen if his FC Barcelona can remain the team to beat in LALIGA EA SPORTS after dominating the competition over the last two seasons.
Getafe CF – José Bordalás
A historic 2025/26 campaign saw Getafe CF finish seventh in the table to clinch a spot in the Conference League qualifiers. Bordalás’ side are set to make their European comeback after a six-year absence, with the Spanish coach earning a contract extension until 2028. Only Real Madrid (35) and FC Barcelona (36) conceded fewer goals than Getafe CF last term, with the 62-year-old tactician having re-established his team as one of the finest defences in the league.
Levante UD – Luís Castro
Three wins in their last four games of the season allowed Castro’s Levante UD to secure safety despite a loss in their last match at Real Betis. The 46-year-old coach succeeded Álvaro del Moral back in December, becoming the third coach in charge of the Granotes last term. A stretch of six wins in their last 10 matches of the season saw the team bounce back from adversity, escaping from the relegation zone and finishing 16th in the table.
Málaga CF – Juan Francisco Funes
A slow start to the season saw Málaga CF replace Sergio Pellicer with former B team coach Funes back in mid-November. The Andalusian side went on to lose just five league games, finishing fourth in LALIGA HYPERMOTION to secure playoff berth. Having overcome UD Las Palmas in the semi-finals, they beat UD Almería (0-2 agg.) despite their rivals entering the finals with home advantage and clinched top-flight promotion after an eight-year absence. Having been hailed for his work with young prodigies, Funes will now coach a first-division team for the first time in his career.
Real Racing Club – José Alberto
Having finished top of the second tier, the Asturian coach helped Real Racing Club return to LALIGA EA SPORTS after a 14-year wait. Los Verdiblancos boasted the finest attack in the league with 90 goals scored in 42 games, as well as the best home record, having won 15 of their 21 matches at the historic El Sardinero. Another top-flight debutant, the 44-year-old coach is set to be in charge of his first-ever LALIGA EA SPORTS game when the season kicks off in August.
Rayo Vallecano – Beñat San José
Coming off a solid season at SD Eibar, who finished eighth in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, San José has been appointed to succeed Iñigo Pérez at the Vallecas-based club. A journey that saw the Basque taking charge of teams in Saudi Arabia, Bolivia, Chile, Dubai, Mexico and Belgium led to a return to Spain for SD Eibar last term. Aged 46, this is the first time he will coach a team featuring in the Spanish top flight.
RC Celta – Claudio Giráldez
Having been appointed RC Celta coach on March 2024, Giráldez has already become a fan favourite after leading the team to European qualification for two straight seasons. In fact, the Galician side bettered their league finish in 2024/25 by one spot, finishing sixth last term to clinch Europa League football for next season. Under Giráldez, RC Celta boasted the third-best road record last season, with eight wins away from home including victories at both Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.
RC Deportivo – Antonio Hidalgo
A run that saw RC Deportivo lose just one of their last 13 games helped the Galician side clinch second spot in LALIGA HYPERMOTION, earning automatic promotion to the top flight after an eight-year absence. They did so by making the most of their form away from home, as no team picked up more points than Depor’s 39, with Hidalgo’s side celebrating 11 wins and suffering only four defeats on the road last term. Following RC Deportivo’s return to the top tier, LALIGA EA SPORTS are set to welcome another debutant in 47-year-old Hidalgo.
RCD Espanyol – Manolo González
A strong start to the 2025/26 campaign may have been followed by a drop in form, but RCD Espanyol finally managed to finish 11th – their best top-flight finish since 2019. Having joined the Periquitos on March 2024, González has overseen a steady improvement in his team’s performances, earning a contract extension until the end of next season – which could be his third full campaign in charge of the Catalan team.
Real Betis – Manuel Pellegrini
A historic season ended with Real Betis clinching fifth spot in LALIGA EA SPORTS to earn Champions League qualification for only the second time in club history. Having led Real Betis to European qualification for the sixth consecutive campaign, Pellegrini has become one of the longest-serving coaches in the top flight after joining the Andalusian club in 2020. Over the last six years, he has seen Real Betis win the Copa del Rey in 2021/22 and reach the Conference League final in 2024/25.
Real Madrid – José Mourinho
Thirteen years after ending his first tenure at Real Madrid, the Portuguese coach returns to take charge of Los Blancos following a turbulent season that saw them win no trophy. Having replaced Álvaro Arbeloa, Mourinho re-joins the team from Benfica, with whom he faced Real Madrid three times last season, winning one game and losing two. The 63-year-old tactician in now back in the Spanish capital, where he won a league title, one Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España in his first stint.
Real Sociedad – Pellegrino Matarazzo
A slow start to the 2025/26 campaign was followed by Matarazzo’s appointment in December to turn Real Sociedad’s season around. The 48-year-old coach helped the Basque side bounce back and pull clear of the relegation zone before leading them to Copa del Rey glory. Real Sociedad may have finished 10th in the table, but they have clinched European football for the sixth straight season through their cup success and Matarazzo will cherish the opportunity to be in charge for his first full top-flight season at Los Txuri-urdin.
Sevilla FC – Luis García Plaza
With Sevilla FC battling relegation last season, the Andalusian club turned to Luis García Plaza in March after parting ways with Matías Almeyda. The 53-year-old responded by guiding the team to safety, winning four of his nine matches in charge as the Nervionenses finished one point above drop zone in 13th. Having coached over 230 top-flight games across spells at Levante UD, Getafe CF, Villarreal CF, RCD Mallorca and Deportivo Alavés, he is currently one of the most experienced coaches in LALIGA EA SPORTS.
Valencia CF – Carlos Corberán
Corberán’s appointment in December 2024 helped the team bounce back from adversity, finishing 13th in his first season and ninth in his first full campaign. Los Che narrowly missed out on European qualification last term, finishing just two points behind seventh-placed Getafe CF despite a run of four wins and just one loss in their last six games. Entering his second full season with Valencia CF, Corberán will look to help the team return to Europe for the first time since 2019/20.
Villarreal CF – Iñigo Pérez
After leading Rayo Vallecano to their first-ever European final, Pérez parted ways with the Vallecas-based club to succeed Marcelino at Villarreal CF. His Rayo Vallecano missed out on European qualification last season after finishing just one point behind Getafe CF, but he oversaw a historic campaign at a team who participated in a European competition for only the second time in their history. Stakes are even higher now at Villarreal CF, who finished third last term, meaning that Pérez is set to coach in the Champions League for the first time in his career.
