Paco Jemez may be in line for a new job only days after seemingly announcing his departure from West Ham United.
Though Jemez has not entirely ruled out a quick return to the London Stadium – he told Spanish radio station COPE last week that Nuno Espirito Santo is keen to keep him in the dugout – the lure of a managerial role in La Liga may prove too impossible to turn down.
After finishing third in the Segunda, UD Almeria face Castellon in a two-legged play-off. The first leg will take place on Saturday, with the return slated for Tuesday.
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Despite leading Almeria to within 270 minutes of promotion, head coach Rubi is reportedly facing the sack.
And according to La Voz de Almeria, the ambitious, Saudi Arabian-backed outfit are seriously considering the idea of parachuting Paco Jemez into Andalusia at remarkably short notice.
Paco Jemez could leave West Ham United for UD Almeria
The report adds that Alessio Lisci, harshly sacked despite keeping Osasuna in La Liga, is the other leading candidate as things stand.
Yet, it is reported that ‘Jemez’s profile fits as a recognisable and experienced option to handle a demanding situation’. The Almeria bosses also admire his commitment to intense, front-foot football.
Jemez famously earned the admiration of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique while taking Rayo Vallecano to a record-breaking eight-place finish in La Liga over a decade ago. He would struggle to replicate that success at the likes of Granada, Las Palmas or UD Ibiza, but his reputation in Spain remains strong.
Jemez, then, may have a difficult decision to make pretty soon.
Jemez has talked to Nuno Espirito Santo about a return to England
Does he accept Nuno’s offer and return to his role as West Ham’s number two? Or does he instead take up the chance to become Almeria’s number one and head back home?
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“[Last week], Nuno called me to tell me that he was going to continue, that he had reached an agreement with the club and that he was going to continue, and to ask me what I was going to do,” Jemez told Cope.
“He wanted me to stay there with him. And, well, we were chatting. I told him about my needs and my concerns and so on, and well. I have a feeling we’ll have to keep talking…
“When you experience [the Premier League] from the inside, you realise that possibly – well, surely along with [La Liga] – they are the two best in the world. [English sides] have an economic capacity that makes them clubs that can go to another level in all aspects.
“Not just in terms of signing players, but in terms of having everything.
“I mean, the first day I arrived [at West Ham], they showed me the facilities and everything. I started thinking, ‘OK, Paco, can you think of anything that’s missing here that you might need?’ And nothing comes up.
“You have absolutely everything, and that’s thanks to a much greater financial capacity than most clubs in Spain have. And then, well, the atmosphere, the stadiums… it’s quite a league. I knew the experience was going to be great, but I was surprised when I experienced it from the inside.”
The likes of Dinos Mavropanos, Freddie Potts and Mateus Fernandes raved about Jemez’s impact following his January arrival. They, and left-back Ollie Scarles, all credited the 56-year-old for instilling a sense of discipline and organisation previously lacking at the London Stadium.
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