Michel has been sacked and Unai Emery will take his place
Sevilla lying in 12th place with just 6 wins moved quickly today as Jose Maria Del Nido, the president sacked Michel, the Real Madrid legend, less than a year after his appointment. Unai Emery, the former Valencia and Spartak Moscow coach was installed in his place.
Los Nervionenses has some bright lights including former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo, winger Jesus Navas, he of the electric blue eyes and pace, and Gary Medel, the Chilean enforcer in midfield. It also boasts Ivan Rakitic, the Croatian standout who left Schalke after his exploits there to sign a four and half year contract with Sevilla in 2011.
Twelfth place is an underachievement with this assembly of talent. Sevilla has consistently finished in the top four of La Liga till the 2010 season when it finished fifth. Last year they fell to ninth and this season has been a continuation of that slide.
The sharp dressed Emery was a steadying influence while at Valencia and in his final two seasons guided them to third in the league and a CL spot even as they offloaded key players like David Villa, David Silva, and Juan Mata to pay off the massive debts incurred by the club.
Arsenal links include Jose Antonio Reyes, the homesick winger who spent three seasons at the club. In the past Arsenal have been linked with Navas, whose crippling fear of air travel became an issue and Emir Spahic, the half back who practically invited himself to the Emirates when in Montpellier.