Javier Aguirre has handled the helm of Mallorca with precision until leading it to the fourth final in its history in the Copa del Rey against Athletic Club de Bilbaosecond for the Mexican coach after which lost 19 years ago, in 2005with Osasuna in extra time (2-1) against Betis.
The “Vasco” follows in the footsteps of the colleagues who preceded him on the vermilion bench in the challenge of reaching the key clash of the cup tournament, the Spanish Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, Gregorio Manzano and the Argentine Héctor Cúper.
Only Manzano achieved glory with the Mallorcan victory against Recreativo de Huelva in Elche (2003); Serra Ferrer and Cúper saw how the trophy eluded them against Atlético de Madrid (1991) and Barcelona (1998), respectively.
Mallorca will face Athletic in the final on Saturday at the La Cartuja stadium, one of the “kings of Cups” – with 23 titles – along with Barça, which has 31.
The Balearic club will not arrive in the capital of Seville as a favorite, as the history of the cup competition demonstrates. But he didn’t have it all with him two years ago in LaLiga, threatened by relegation to Second, until Aguirre assumed the technical direction of the Vermillions in March 2022 with 9 days left in the championship.
After a dramatic final sprint, Mallorca not only saved the category, but also, in the following season, He finished the championship in ninth position, adding 50 points.
With Aguirre on the bench, the Vermillions have played 77 games in the highest category of Spanish football; Of them he has won 24, tied 22 and lost 31.
The team has gone 79 games without falling into the relegation zone and, until now, still without three consecutive defeats. However, this season they are having a hard time putting their foot down with relegation. It is his unfinished business. In the thirtieth round, only six points (a total of 31) separate them from the abyss.
In this season’s Copa del Rey, however, the Mexico City coach’s numbers have been spectacular. After overcoming four rounds against smaller rivals (Boiro, Valle de Egües, Burgos and Tenerife), Mallorca eliminated Girona, the fashionable team this year in First Division, and Real Sociedad to reach the final of the KO tournament.
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