Sporting Gijon have confirmed that Coach Abelardo Fernandez has signed a new contract with the club until 2020.
The agreement was reached on Thursday afternoon as Sporting spoke of their intent “to build” their sporting project “around a man of the house”, in reference to Abelardo’s Asturian background.
“The excellent line of the Coach with the board and sports management has established our model of work, and our economic prospects entail a promising future that begins with a very exciting 2016-17 season,“ read a statement on the club’s website.
“The board would like to thank Abelardo for his conduct and intention of taking on the enormous responsibility of leading Sporting’s plans for the first team and the fundamental base of the project, which is to establish the team in La Liga.
“Both our economic and sporting growth has led to both parties agreeing a long-term contract before the start of the season, and in the assurance that everyone is together and united and with fans like those of Sporting, we will celebrate many successes in this important period of the club’s history.”
Former Barcelona and Spain defender Abelardo took charge of Sporting midway through the 2014-15 campaign and guided the club to La Liga at the first time of asking.
A transfer embargo meant the side were limited to loans and free transfers in their first season back, but the 46-year-old kept his boyhood team up on the final day.
