Levante release Juan Ignacio Martinez

Levante sporting director Manolo Salvador has confirmed that the club are not handing Coach Juan Ignacio Martinez a new contract beyond this summer.

Martinez, who took Los Granotes to a sixth place finish in La Liga in 2011-12 and a first ever campaign in Europe, will be released at the end of his contract after two years at the Ciutat de Valencia.

Reports in recent weeks had it that the 48-year-old’s future was at risk as, despite a run to the Last 16 of the Europa League, Levante’s League form in the second half of 2012-13 tailed off.

Following on from yesterday’s rumours that the club’s board were voting to not continue with JIM, sporting director Salvador has informed the Press of the Coach’s departure.

“The reason for this Press conference is that Levante will not offer Juan Ignacio a renewal,” Salvador told reporters on Wednesday.

“The meeting was very cordial, but the decision has been the most difficult of my career.

“The board has supported my decision, as they have always done.

“I have the profile of a replacement Coach in mind, but I cannot yet say. I would like us to have a new Coach appointed shortly, if it were up to me.”

Martinez is seen as a candidate to replace Miroslav Djukic at Real Valladolid, whilst Levante are looking at Joaquin Caparros or Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recently departed Coach Oscar Garcia.

Tags JIM Juan Ignacio Martinez Salvador
La Liga - Club News