Alaves have stayed up, even when it looked for a while like they wouldn’t. The decision to bring in Javi Calleja with nine rounds to go was key.
That wasn’t even Alaves’ first coaching change of the season. They started with Pablo Machin, but he was sacked after 18 rounds with the team in 16th, with former coach Abelardo brought back. But, it wasn’t a good reunion and Abelardo really struggled, being sacked after Matchday 29 with the team rock bottom.
Calleja didn’t change much tactically when he came in, other than bringing Lucas Perez back into the side after he’d had some off-the-field issues, but Calleja’s arrival provided a motivational and emotional boost, with Alaves benefitting from a new manager bounce.
Alaves won four, drew three and lost two of the nine matches Calleja oversaw, which was enough to move out of the relegation zone and then secure survival with a round to spare.
Unsurprisingly, Calleja is being hailed as the club’s saviour and has been given a contract extension. But, it remains to be seen if his efforts can be sustainable or if his good results were more so because of the new manager bounce he represented.
Alaves need to improve their squad too, as they have a squad with many old players and many loanees who they’ll lose.
