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 name José Manuel Corral García
Date of birth (1952-12-08) 8 December 1952 (age 71)
Place of birth A Coruña, Spain
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1972 Barcelona Atlètic
1972–1973 San Andrés 12 (0)
1973–1979 Racing de Ferrol 80 (5)
1979–1981 Almería 23 (1)
Total 115 (6)
Managerial career
1997 Deportivo La Coruña (caretaker)
1997–1998 Deportivo 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]
Club Season League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barcelona Atlètic 1971–72 Tercera División ? ? 1 0 1 0
San Andrés 1972–73 Segunda División 12 0 2 0 14 0
Racing de Ferrol 1975–76 Tercera División 21 2 0 0 21 2
1976–77 ? ? 1 0 1 0
1977–78 Segunda División B 28 1 3 1 31 2
1978–79 Segunda División 31 2 4 0 35 2
Total 80 5 8 1 88 6
Almería 1979–80 La Liga 19 1 4 0 23 1
1980–81 4 0 1 0 5 0
Total 23 1 5 0 28 1
Career total 115 6 16 1 131 7

As a manager

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As of 22 March 2021[2]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Deportivo La Coruña   16 February 1997 16 February 1997 1 0 1 0 0 0 +0 000.00 [5]
Deportivo La Coruña   18 October 1997 16 May 1998 36 13 11 12 41 43 −2 036.11 [9]
Career Total 37 13 12 12 41 43 −2 035.14

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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