The relationship between Benítez and the fans at Balaídos was known for its coldness. The public had complained about the lack of self-criticism of the coach born in Madrid and the chant of ‘Benítez vaite xa’ was already a daily occurrence in the stands at Vigo.
The fans did not support a manager that had the lowest points per match average in the history of Celta while being their highest paid coach ever. But the truth is that, even if it was mostly due to the abysmal level of their competitors, the club were out of the relegation zone under Benítez.
Marián Mouriño made one of her most important decisions since becoming club president and decided to terminate his contract and entrust Claudio Giráldez, a manager that is probably unknown to the mainstream public. But, who is Claudio Giráldez?
Claudio Giráldez was the manager of Celta Fortuna, one of the best teams in Primera Federación. Born in ‘O Porriño’, Claudio played in the academies of Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, but would end up spending his career in Galician football and retiring after being relegated to the Third Division along with his dear Porriño Industrial. He combined managing the youth categories of the club with coaching academy football, and shortly after, he would take the leap to Celta’s academy.
He would spend a brief stint in amateur football at Gran Peña, a team that would become Celta Gran Peña shortly after (the third category of the team based in Vigo), before the Olivic side gave him the keys to their Juvenil A, a team that would dazzle the entire north of Spain after winning their league with many players that are currently starting to make appearances in the first team being part of their roster.
The manager would take over Celta Fortuna after the departure of Onésimo and, in under two seasons, he has already earnt his shot with the first team.
How do his teams play?
Claudio is the kind of manager that favors a lively and combinative playstyle, which has led Celta Fortuna to fall just short of entering the Second Division promotion playoffs last season and to be four points behind Deportivo de La Coruña, who are on pace to achieve direct promotion this season.
He does not hesitate to take a chance on younger players and does not care if he has to bench some of the team’s staples. He is also a good problem solver, as he chose to play a three man defense with full-backs and midfielders when he was short on center backs. He also capitalized on his players ability to score from a second line of attack due to the lack of a killer striker.
In addition, he possesses a quality that Benítez lacks, which also allows him to create a bond with their fanbase: self-criticism. He not only is a homegrown talent or manages a team that displays great offensive potential and is very self-aware, but Claudio is also known for his self-criticism in press conferences and overall being an excellent communicator: a critical trait when it comes to having the fans on your side.
Football is unpredictable and simple logic does not necessarily ensure a positive impact, but everyone that is involved in Vigo’s football atmosphere knew that nobody was more prepared for the job or deserved the position more than Claudio Giráldez.
Was rejecting Mirandés early in the season or Espanyol and Levante in March a good decision? We do not know, but Claudio is facing the opportunity of his lifetime and it does not seem like he will let it slip away.
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: @RCCelta.
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