Heavy Spanish influence in the Premier League now
There is a heavy influence of Spanish football in the Premier League at the moment. These things go in cycles, Arsene Wenger seemed to always be raiding France but it's with the managers now.
Eight Premier League managers have spent time at Barcelona or elsewhere in Spanish football, José Mourinho (Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City), Louis van Gaal (Manchester United), Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) Ronald Koeman (Southampton), Mark Hughes (Stoke City), Roberto Martínez (Everton) and Sanchez Flores (Watford).
Three of the top four last season had Spanish influences in their coaching having spent a total of 18 seasons there between them. José Mourinho was coach at Real Madrid of course and was an assistant coach at Barcelona from 1995-2000. Manuel Pellegrini was at Villarreal from 2004=09, Real Madrid from 2009-10 and Malaga from 2010-13. His rival in Manchester, Louis van Gaal, was at Barcelona from 1997-2000 and again in 2002-03.
Fifth last season was ourselves and we of course have Mauricio Pochettino who spent playing time and managerial time (2009-12) at a cash strapped Espanyol. Southampton finished seventh where Ronald Koeman spent 1998-99 at Barcelona and 2007-08 at Valencia, he also spent six season as a player at Barcelona 1989-95.
Mark Hughes finished in ninth place with Stoke City and he spent three years as a player for Barcelona in 1986-89, although a year of that was on loan at Bayern Munich. Roberto Martínez finished eleventh with Everton and came through the youth system at his home town club Balaguer, then Real Zaragoza before returning to play for a season at Balaguer ahead of his transfer to Wigan in 1995.
Newly promoted Watford have appointed Enrique "Quique" Sánchez Flores as their manager and he has extensive Spanish experience, hardly surprising given he is Spanish. His playing career was spent at Valencia (1984-94), Real Madrid (1994-96) and Real Zaragoza (1996-97), plus Spanish caps at Under-18, 21, 23 levels before 15 full caps.
Managerially his time was spent at Real Madrid with their youth teams (2001-04), Getafe (2004-05), Valencia (2005-07), Atlético Madrid (2009-11) and back to Getafe again in January this year.
All those teams want to play possession based passing football, exactly what Spanish players are brought up on and arguably why we should look to Spain more than we have done in the past. presumably that's why we have appointed 24-year-old Spaniard Adrián Espárraga as senior scout for Southern Europe, which of course brings in Portugal.
Further Reading
Spurs are improving their scouting network
Spurs should sign more Spanish youth
Espanyol embroiled in match fixing scandal - also Neymar, Barcelona, Italian football, FIFA
Eight Premier League managers have spent time at Barcelona or elsewhere in Spanish football, José Mourinho (Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City), Louis van Gaal (Manchester United), Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur) Ronald Koeman (Southampton), Mark Hughes (Stoke City), Roberto Martínez (Everton) and Sanchez Flores (Watford).
Three of the top four last season had Spanish influences in their coaching having spent a total of 18 seasons there between them. José Mourinho was coach at Real Madrid of course and was an assistant coach at Barcelona from 1995-2000. Manuel Pellegrini was at Villarreal from 2004=09, Real Madrid from 2009-10 and Malaga from 2010-13. His rival in Manchester, Louis van Gaal, was at Barcelona from 1997-2000 and again in 2002-03.
Fifth last season was ourselves and we of course have Mauricio Pochettino who spent playing time and managerial time (2009-12) at a cash strapped Espanyol. Southampton finished seventh where Ronald Koeman spent 1998-99 at Barcelona and 2007-08 at Valencia, he also spent six season as a player at Barcelona 1989-95.
Mark Hughes finished in ninth place with Stoke City and he spent three years as a player for Barcelona in 1986-89, although a year of that was on loan at Bayern Munich. Roberto Martínez finished eleventh with Everton and came through the youth system at his home town club Balaguer, then Real Zaragoza before returning to play for a season at Balaguer ahead of his transfer to Wigan in 1995.
Newly promoted Watford have appointed Enrique "Quique" Sánchez Flores as their manager and he has extensive Spanish experience, hardly surprising given he is Spanish. His playing career was spent at Valencia (1984-94), Real Madrid (1994-96) and Real Zaragoza (1996-97), plus Spanish caps at Under-18, 21, 23 levels before 15 full caps.
Managerially his time was spent at Real Madrid with their youth teams (2001-04), Getafe (2004-05), Valencia (2005-07), Atlético Madrid (2009-11) and back to Getafe again in January this year.
All those teams want to play possession based passing football, exactly what Spanish players are brought up on and arguably why we should look to Spain more than we have done in the past. presumably that's why we have appointed 24-year-old Spaniard Adrián Espárraga as senior scout for Southern Europe, which of course brings in Portugal.
Further Reading
Spurs are improving their scouting network
Spurs should sign more Spanish youth
Espanyol embroiled in match fixing scandal - also Neymar, Barcelona, Italian football, FIFA
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