Page 41 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

Real Betis
Veteran manager Manuel Pellegrini has worked wonders at Betis since taking over at the club in 2020. Another top six finish last term has raised the bar and left the Green and Whites aiming to push on for a top four spot. The eye-catching arrival of former Real Madrid star Isco could the spark of quality they need to do it too with the added experience of Hector Bellerin back at the club. Perhaps though, the departure of Sergio Canales and Edgar Gonzalez may hamper top four expectations. What we do know is that Betis will once again by vying for the European spots and nipping at the heels of the top sides in the league.
NICKNAME:
Los Verdiblancos (The Green-and-Whites) Los Verderones (The Greens)
Béticos
Heliopolitanos (Heliopolitans)
El Glorioso (The Glorious)
MANAGER:
Manuel Pellegrini
LAST YEAR FINISH:
La Liga, 6th
NICKNAME:
Los Blancos (The Whites) Los Merengues (The Meringues)
Los Vikingos (The Vikings) La Casa Blanca (The White House)
MANAGER:
Carlo Ancelotti
LAST YEAR FINISH:
La Liga, 2nd
Real Betis have added ex Real Madrid and Spain star Isco to their squad
Real Madrid
What a summer it has been for last season’s runners up. In comes highly prized England international Jude Bellingham to add to what is one of Europe’s most exciting midfields, joining the mastery of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, and the youthful brilliance of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni However, the departure of Karim Benzema will mean Carlo Ancelotti may tweak his formation somewhat for a heavier midfield, supporting a front two of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Anything other than silverware will be a disappointment and there is a sense with Barcelona
in something of a transition period, the league title is the only acceptable outcome for the 35-times champions of Spain.
Jude Bellingham is the headline signing of the summer in La Liga
Real Sociedad
More of the same is the call from the White and Blues hierarchy after head coach Imanol Alguacil impressively guided his side to fourth place and
the best of the rest outside the regular top three. That means Champions League football for the first time in 10 years will be coming to the Anoeta Stadium. Alguacil’s calm demeanour has meant transfer activity has been solid if not spectacular with right-back Hamari Traore and experienced striker Andre Silva in through the door. The retirement of David Silva was a blow to the club with midfield the one key area of weakness ahead of a long campaign.
NICKNAME:
Txuri-Urdinak (The White and Blues)
La Real (The Royal)
MANAGER:
Imanol Alguacil
LAST YEAR FINISH:
La Liga, 4th
The signing of striker Andre Silva could prove a masterstroke by Real Sociedad
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 41
DUGOUT DUEL
MOST OF THE COACHES AMONG LA LIGA’S TOP CLUBS REMAIN THE SAME FOR 2023-24, BUT THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING CHANGES LOWER DOWN THE LEAGUE. IAN WATERHOUSE PROVIDES THE LOWDOWN.
There have been no managerial changes among the top three clubs in La Liga this season. Carlo Ancelotti is presiding over his third consecutive season of his second spell in charge of Real Madrid, while the Xavi era has been underway now since 2021 at Barcelona and Diego Simeone has effectively become part of the furniture at Atletico Madrid now, having first taken charge all the way back in 2011. Of course, with big clubs comes great pressure and Ancelotti will likely be the most under pressure early on if things don’t gel quickly in Madrid.
However, the main story on the managerial front is the return of Rafael Benitez to his homeland. Having first managed the Real Madrid U17 side in 1986, Benitez has gone on to take the hotseat at the likes of Valencia, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and most recently
an ill-fated spell at Everton. Benitez comes back to Spain with a strong reputation and expectations are high at a Celta side that finished 13th last season. Benitez’s signature
is something of a coup for the club which will afford the 63-year-old time if things do not go to plan immediately.
Villarreal head coach Quique Setien is also one to watch after replacing Unai Emery at Villarreal in October 2022. The loss of Emery for The Yellow Submarine was deemed a big blow, but Setien steadied the ship and guided Villarreal into Europe. Now with a winter and summer transfer window under his belt the team is well and truly his with the honeymoon period over.
Valencia head coach Rubén Baraja also had to step in mid-season to steady what was a sinking ship and did just that to earn himself
a two-year contract at the helm of The Bats. However, with ownership issues blighting the club, no matter what Baraja does, he may well find himself on the wrong side of majority shareholder Peter Lim unless miracles can be performed.
Xavi hopes to retain the La Liga title and lead Barcelona to a much improved European campaign