José Manuel Corral (footballer)

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

José Manuel Corral
Personal information
Full nameJosé Manuel Corral García
Date of birth (1952-12-08) 8 December 1952 (age 71)
Place of birthA Coruña, Spain
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s)Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1971–1972Barcelona Atlètic
1972–1973San Andrés12(0)
1973–1979Racing de Ferrol80(5)
1979–1981Almería23(1)
Total115(6)
Managerial career
1997Deportivo La Coruña (caretaker)
1997–1998Deportivo La Coruña
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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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

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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

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Player

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Racing de Ferrol

Career statistics

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As a player

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As of 22 March 2021[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

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As of 22 March 2021[2]
Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecordRef
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Deportivo La Coruña 16 February 199716 February 1997101000+0000.00[5]
Deportivo La Coruña 18 October 199716 May 1998361311124143−2036.11[9]
Career Total371312124143−2035.14

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Corral". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Corral". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  3. ^ Paul Abbandonato (1 March 2008). "Toshack's amazing 30 years as boss". WalesOnline. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1996-97 First Division". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Matches Corral". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Auxerre-Deportivo 1997 History". UEFA Europa League. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1997-98 First Division". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Squad of Deportivo de La Coruña 1998-99 First Division". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Matches Corral". BDFutbol. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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