Juan Manuel Lillo
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel 'Juanma' Lillo Díez (born 2 November 1965 in Tolosa
, Gipuzkoa) is a Spanish
football manager
.
Having entered the coaching business before his 20s, Lillo became the youngest manager ever to coach a La Liga
side, having taken over UD Salamanca
at not yet 30.
in Tercera División
. Afterwards, he moved to CD Mirandés
, also in that level, and led the club to promotion
in the 1988–89 season, as champions.
Lillo spent 1991–92 at Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
, advocating a 4–2–3–1 formation
. He became the youngest coach to attain the national coaching badge in Spain.
Lillo made his name as a manager at UD Salamanca
, joining the club in mid-1992 at the behest of the club's chairman, Juan José Hidalgo. In his first season, he finished second in the third level, narrowly missing out on promotion playoffs, which he attained the following season, without any major changes to the team. This prompted reported interest from La Liga
outfit Real Valladolid
, but Lillo stayed with Salamanca until the end of 1995–96, with the club then in the topflight. This made the coach the youngest ever to manage at the highest level, at only 29. After 28 games in charge, with Salamanca four points into the relegation zone, he was dismissed, but players and fans publicly opposed the sacking, supporting Lillo in recognition of his achievements. Salamanca finished in last place, eleven points behind 21st-place CP Mérida
.
Lillo then had some spells in the first division; in 1996–97, he worked with Real Oviedo
, but was fired before the end of the season due to poor results. He returned to management in February 1998 with CD Tenerife
, helping them avoid relegation in his first season. The following season, however, he did not see out the year; he was sacked after 15 games (though the team was ultimately relegated).
After a year-and-a-half break, Lillo returned to take the reins of Real Zaragoza
. The team had qualified for the UEFA Cup the previous season, and manager Txetxu Rojo moved to Athletic Bilbao
. Lillo set about fulfilling the task of progressing in the European
competition and repeating European qualification through the league, but did not achieve this; after barely three months, he was released from the head coach position, and this would be his last topflight spell.
Lillo did not return to coaching quickly; he worked as a commentator for television channel Antena 3
, during its 2002 FIFA World Cup
coverage. From 2003–05, he coached in the second division, with Ciudad de Murcia
and Terrassa FC
, with little success (the Catalans
were even relegated).
In 2005, Lillo went to Mexico
, joining Dorados de Sinaloa
, resigning mid-season (the club was also eventually relegated). He insinuated that the team he was battling against to avoid relegation, Televisa
-owned San Luis Fútbol Club, had gained unusual victories against more powerful opposition, which were also owned by the Televisa group. This caused much controversy in both the Mexican press and football league
.
Following the incident, Lillo spent the following two years away from football, until he was appointed as the new head coach of Real Sociedad
in April 2008, with the Basque
in division two. Despite losing only once during his tenure, he saw the club fail to reach a promotion spot, after finishing in sixth position, and was replaced by Uruguay
an Martín Lasarte
.
In late December 2009, Lillo replaced Hugo Sánchez
at the helm of struggling UD Almería
, just one place above the relegation zone. After helping the Andalusia
ns finish 13th, his link was renewed for a further season.
On 20 November 2010, following a 0–8 home loss against FC Barcelona
, Lillo was sacked by Almería, who were placed in the relegation zone, eventually being relegated after a four-year stay.
Tolosa, Spain
Tolosa is a town and municipality to the south of Donostia-San Sebastián in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, Spain. It is located in a valley of the river Oria and overlooked by Uzturre, a white cross-topped mountain.-Famous people from Tolosa:...
, Gipuzkoa) is a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Having entered the coaching business before his 20s, Lillo became the youngest manager ever to coach a La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side, having taken over UD Salamanca
UD Salamanca
Unión Deportiva Salamanca, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 16 March 1923, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2....
at not yet 30.
Manager career
Lillo began coaching local team Amaroz KE at just 16 and, four years later, he took charge of Tolosa CFTolosa CF
Tolosa Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Tolosa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country. Founded in 1922, it plays in División de Honor de Guipúzcoa, holding home games at Estadio Beratzubi, with a capacity of 3,000 seats....
in Tercera División
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
. Afterwards, he moved to CD Mirandés
CD Mirandés
Club Deportivo Mirandés is a Spanish football team based in Miranda de Ebro, Province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, also in that level, and led the club to promotion
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
in the 1988–89 season, as champions.
Lillo spent 1991–92 at Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in León, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in Tercera División – Group 8, holding home games at Estadio Reino de León, with a capacity of 13,451 seats.-Season to season:----*1...
, advocating a 4–2–3–1 formation
Formation (association football)
In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football....
. He became the youngest coach to attain the national coaching badge in Spain.
Lillo made his name as a manager at UD Salamanca
UD Salamanca
Unión Deportiva Salamanca, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded on 16 March 1923, it currently plays in Segunda División B – Group 2....
, joining the club in mid-1992 at the behest of the club's chairman, Juan José Hidalgo. In his first season, he finished second in the third level, narrowly missing out on promotion playoffs, which he attained the following season, without any major changes to the team. This prompted reported interest from La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, but Lillo stayed with Salamanca until the end of 1995–96, with the club then in the topflight. This made the coach the youngest ever to manage at the highest level, at only 29. After 28 games in charge, with Salamanca four points into the relegation zone, he was dismissed, but players and fans publicly opposed the sacking, supporting Lillo in recognition of his achievements. Salamanca finished in last place, eleven points behind 21st-place CP Mérida
CP Mérida
Club Polideportivo Mérida was a Spanish football team based in Mérida, in the autonomous community of Extremadura.Having played twice in La Liga , the club disappeared in 2000, due to serious economic debts...
.
Lillo then had some spells in the first division; in 1996–97, he worked with Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, but was fired before the end of the season due to poor results. He returned to management in February 1998 with CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
, helping them avoid relegation in his first season. The following season, however, he did not see out the year; he was sacked after 15 games (though the team was ultimately relegated).
After a year-and-a-half break, Lillo returned to take the reins of Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
. The team had qualified for the UEFA Cup the previous season, and manager Txetxu Rojo moved to Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
. Lillo set about fulfilling the task of progressing in the European
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competition and repeating European qualification through the league, but did not achieve this; after barely three months, he was released from the head coach position, and this would be his last topflight spell.
Lillo did not return to coaching quickly; he worked as a commentator for television channel Antena 3
Antena 3 (Spain)
Antena 3 is a Spanish terrestrial television channel owned by Antena 3 de Televisión. Some of the more popular programmes broadcast by Antena 3 include Aquí no hay quien viva, El Barco, Los Protegidos, Los Simpson and El Internado....
, during its 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
coverage. From 2003–05, he coached in the second division, with Ciudad de Murcia
Ciudad de Murcia
Club de Fútbol Atlético Ciudad was a Spanish football club based in Murcia, in the autonomous community of Murcia. Founded in 2007, it played its last season in Segunda División B , holding home matches at Estadio Juan de la Cierva, with a 1,600-seat capacity.-History:On June 6, 2007, Ciudad de...
and Terrassa FC
Terrassa FC
Terrassa Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Terrassa, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1906, it currently plays in 3ª - Group 5, holding home matches at Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa, with a capacity of 11.500 spectators.-History:In 1914, Terrassa's...
, with little success (the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
were even relegated).
In 2005, Lillo went to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, joining Dorados de Sinaloa
Dorados de Sinaloa
Club Social y Deportivo Sinaloa, or simply Dorados, is a Mexican professional football club. The club plays its home games in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in the northwest of Mexico. Dorados was the youngest franchise to play in the Primera División de México, having joined the division for the first time...
, resigning mid-season (the club was also eventually relegated). He insinuated that the team he was battling against to avoid relegation, Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
-owned San Luis Fútbol Club, had gained unusual victories against more powerful opposition, which were also owned by the Televisa group. This caused much controversy in both the Mexican press and football league
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
.
Following the incident, Lillo spent the following two years away from football, until he was appointed as the new head coach of Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
in April 2008, with the Basque
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
in division two. Despite losing only once during his tenure, he saw the club fail to reach a promotion spot, after finishing in sixth position, and was replaced by Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an Martín Lasarte
Martín Lasarte
Martín Bernardo Lasarte Arróspide is a retired Uruguayan footballer who played as a defender, and a current manager.-Playing career:...
.
In late December 2009, Lillo replaced Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez
Hugo Sánchez Márquez , popularly nicknamed Pentapichichi, or Hugol, is a Mexican football coach and former striker. He played for four European clubs, including Real Madrid. Sanchez is considered the first highly talented Mexican player. He was also a member of the Mexico national team, and...
at the helm of struggling UD Almería
UD Almería
Unión Deportiva Almería, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1989 as Almería Club de Fútbol, it currently plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos, with a 22,000-seat...
, just one place above the relegation zone. After helping the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns finish 13th, his link was renewed for a further season.
On 20 November 2010, following a 0–8 home loss against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, Lillo was sacked by Almería, who were placed in the relegation zone, eventually being relegated after a four-year stay.