UD Almería are delighted to announce the appointment of Francisco Javier García Pimienta as the Club's new head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Catalan joins the Rojiblancos with the objective of leading the team back to the top flight after two consecutive campaigns in which promotion proved just out of reach.

Having spent more than 30 years at FC Barcelona, first as a player and later as a head coach within the club's renowned Academy, García Pimienta has built a reputation for an attractive, possession-based style of football centred on attacking play, technical quality and control of the game.

That philosophy brought success at UD Las Palmas, where he guided the Islanders to promotion to LaLiga in 2023 before securing their top-flight status the following season. He later took charge of Sevilla FC during the 2024/25 campaign.

García Pimienta now begins preparations for the upcoming season as UD Almería continue to shape their squad with the arrivals of Jorge Pulido, Miguel de la Fuente and Brian Cipenga, while further additions remain under consideration. The Club's objective is to build a squad capable of implementing the new head coach's footballing philosophy and competing for promotion from the outset.

Widely recognised for his ability to develop players and lead ambitious sporting projects, García Pimienta arrives in Almería ready to take on a new challenge. His experience, leadership and clear footballing identity are expected to play a key role in the Club's pursuit of a return to Spain's top-flight.

Before moving into senior management, García Pimienta enjoyed an outstanding coaching career within FC Barcelona's Academy, where he played an important role in the development of numerous elite players, including Lionel Messi, Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas and Ansu Fati, while achieving considerable success with both the club's youth teams and Barça Atlètic.

The newly-appointed gaffer joined UD Las Palmas midway through the 2021/22 season, guiding the Canary Islands side to the promotion play-offs. Promotion was secured the following campaign and after ensuring survival in LaLiga in 2023/24, he was appointed head coach of Sevilla FC ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Everyone at UD Almería welcomes García Pimienta to the Club and wishes him every success in this new chapter.