José Manuel Corral (footballer) explained

José Manuel Corral
Fullname:José Manuel Corral García
Birth Date:8 December 1952
Birth Place:A Coruña, Spain
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1971–1972
Years2:1972–1973
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:1973–1979
Caps3:80
Goals3:5
Years4:1979–1981
Caps4:23
Goals4:1
Totalcaps:115
Totalgoals:6
Manageryears1:1997
Managerclubs1:Deportivo La Coruña (caretaker)
Manageryears2:1997–1998
Managerclubs2:Deportivo La Coruña

José Manuel Corral García (born 8 December 1952) is a Spanish former football player and manager.

Corral's playing career as a midfielder included 23 appearances and one goal during two La Liga seasons with Almería.[1] He had a brief spell as manager of Deportivo La Coruña in the top flight during the 1997 - 98 season.[2]

Playing career

Corral was born in A Coruña in Galicia, but began his career with Spanish giants Barcelona. He played with their B team, Barcelona Atlètic, in the Tercera División in 1971 - 72, but left at the end of that season without appearing for the first team. He joined Segunda División side San Andrés, spending an uneventful season before dropping back to the Tercera División with Racing de Ferrol in 1973. Ferrol were promoted to Segunda División B in 1976 - 77, and followed this up by winning their group and earning a second consecutive promotion the following season. 1978 - 79 proved to be their only season in the second tier, as they were relegated at the first attempt, and Corral left the club that summer.[1]

Corral then joined newly promoted La Liga side Almería, and made 23 top flight appearances over the next two seasons. Almería were relegated in 1980 - 81, and Corral left professional football at the age of just 28.[1]

Coaching career

After his retirement, Corral returned to his home town, becoming a coach at Deportivo La Coruña. By the mid-1990s, he was assistant to first team coach John Toshack, and after Toshack's resignation in February 1997,[3] Corral was appointed caretaker manager.[4] He was in charge for one match, which was a goalless draw against Atlético Madrid on 16 February,[5] before the arrival of new head coach Carlos Alberto Silva.[4]

Silva too was sacked in October the same year, following poor results in La Liga and elimination from the UEFA Cup at the hands of French side Auxerre.[6] Corral was again put in charge, this time in a more permanent capacity until the end of the season.[7] Depor won just thirteen of Corral's 36 matches in charge,[2] and finished the season in 12th place, their lowest finish since 1991 - 92. He was replaced by Javier Irureta ahead of the following season,[8] heralding the start of the most successful period in the club's history.

Honours

Player

Racing de Ferrol

1977 - 78

Career statistics

As a player

[1]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barcelona Atlètic1971 - 72Tercera División??1010
San Andrés1972 - 73Segunda División12020140
Racing de Ferrol1975 - 76Tercera División21200212
1976 - 77??1010
1977 - 78Segunda División B28131312
1978 - 79Segunda División31240352
Total80581886
Almería1979 - 80La Liga19140231
1980 - 81401050
Total23150281
Career total11561611317

As a manager

[2]

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecord
Deportivo La Coruña16 February 199716 February 1997
Deportivo La Coruña18 October 199716 May 1998[9]
Career Total

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corral. 22 March 2021. BDFutbol.
  2. Web site: Corral. 22 March 2021. BDFutbol.
  3. News: Toshack's amazing 30 years as boss . WalesOnline . Paul Abbandonato . 1 March 2008 . 10 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1996-97 First Division . BDFutbol . 22 March 2021.
  5. Web site: Matches Corral . BDFutbol . 22 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Auxerre-Deportivo 1997 History . UEFA Europa League . 22 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1997-98 First Division . BDFutbol . 22 March 2021.
  8. Web site: Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1998-99 First Division . BDFutbol . 22 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Matches Corral . BDFutbol . 22 March 2021.