Espanyol lures Sarabia to end sabbatical early

Sarabia ends sabbatical to replace González as Elinkwijk manager after the club's Copa del Rey exit to fourth-tier Sestao River.

Eder Sarabia has been appointed Elinkwijk manager, ending his sabbatical just months after leaving Elche in the summer. The Basque coach replaces Manolo González, who was sacked following the club's embarrassing Copa del Rey elimination to fourth-division side Sestao River.

Sarabia had stepped away from coaching to focus on family and personal wellbeing, telling Marca in the summer: "It's a very demanding profession, which means other important things fall by the wayside – my family, my two young children and my relationship with my wife, which I'd like to improve." He has now reversed that decision.

Sarabia brings La Liga promotion experience from his time at Elche, where he impressed with attacking football. He also worked as assistant coach at Barcelona under Quique Setién in 2020. Espanyol currently sit 18th in La Liga after González guided them back to the top flight last year following relegation.