First Team
Rubi writes one of the brightest pages in Club's history
UD Almería thank the head coach and his training staff for their great work and wish them the best of luck for the future
Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' writes one of the brightest pages in the UD Almería's history and the Club would like to thank both him and his training staff for their great work, apart from wishing them the best of luck for the future. UD Almería along with the Catalan gaffer achieved promotion to the Spanish top flight in the past 2021/22 season, and in the recently finished 2022/23 campaign, the team has secured LaLiga Santander survival. In addition to sporting successes, UD Almería would like to highlight their professionalism and total commitment to the Club in all aspects, laying solid foundations for the future.
The Vilassar de Mar native arrived in Almería at the end of April 2021. After picking up the baton from former head coach José Gomes, he debuted in the Rojiblancos' dugout in a draw with Real Oviedo and also qualified for the play-offs for promotion to the top tier in that 2020/21 campaign. Despite being knocked out in the semi-finals by Girona FC, the Club did not lose confidence in him.
In the 2021/22 season, Rubi inspired UD Almería to the first division after a spectacular championship that was only altered for a few days due to Covid-19.
After seven years in the second tier, the Indálicos returned to the Spanish football elite.
Moreover, the team were crowned the LaLiga SmartBank champions, something that had not happened in previous promotions. In the 2022/23 campaign, the objective of staying up was met in a league in which the battle not to go down was truly fierce until the very last minute.
UD Almería became one of the strongest teams at home, where they accrued 34 out of the 41 points. It is worth highlighting the historic victory over FC Barcelona, current league champs. Although the Rojiblancos' unfinished business was clinching an away victory, they scored on the pitches of their direct rivals, something key in the head-to-head goal difference.
Rubi has led UD Almería in 92 official fixtures, surpassing another illustrious head coach in this section, Unai Emery.