The Basque coach takes the helm at Sevilla with a clear mission: lift the club away from the drop zone and secure stability for the season ahead.
Sevilla has wrapped up the appointment of its third manager for the 2022-2023 campaign. The Nervión club opted to part ways with Jorge Sampaoli after a run of disappointing results and, during the international break, initiated a swap on the bench by bringing in José Luis Mendilibar to guide the team.
Signing of José Luis Mendilibar as Sevilla coach: contract length, salary, coaching philosophy, and past clubs
Jose Luis Mendilibar, born in Zaldibar in 1961, steps in as Sevilla’s new head coach. He signs a contract spanning the remainder of the current season with the objective of steering Nervión away from danger and restoring confidence around the squad. Familiarity within the dressing room helps; Mendilibar already knows three Sevilla players from his time at Eibar, including Marko Dmitrovic, Joan Jordán, and Bryan Gil.
As a player, Mendilibar was a striker who spent his active years in the 1980s and 1990s with clubs such as Bilbao Athletic, Logroñés, Sestao, and Lemona. After hanging up his boots, he transitioned to coaching in the Basque Country and with smaller clubs before breaking into Segunda with Eibar in 2004, nearly earning promotion to the top flight in his maiden season.
His path then led him to Athletic Bilbao, where his tenure was brief—nine matches before a dismissal. He subsequently rebuilt his reputation by guiding Valladolid back to the Primera Division and keeping it there for two seasons before parting ways. A similar pattern followed at Osasuna, where Mendilibar helped stave off relegation in 2010-11 and again in the prior campaigns before leaving in 2013-14.
After a period away from the spotlight, the coach returned to Eibar, delivering six consecutive seasons and establishing himself as a dependable figure at the club until a drop in form in 2021 signaled the end of that era. Last season, Alavés brought him in midway through the campaign with the aim of avoiding relegation, but the club decided to part ways with him in April after a difficult spell.
Mendilibar is renowned for a physically demanding, disciplined approach that emphasizes pressing and high-intensity defending. His teams are typically structured to win back possession quickly and attack down the flanks, often deploying a 4-4-2 system that prioritizes width and directness in transition. This methodological style shapes how he builds a game plan, influences player roles, and sets expectations for work rate and organization on the field.
All eyes are on how this change will unfold in Seville, where the objective is immediate improvement in results and a more resilient, cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level in La Liga and beyond. The press and fan base will be watching closely as Mendilibar targets a rapid, sustainable turnaround for a club with a storied history and significant expectations for the season ahead.
As noted by Goal, the move aims to combine Mendilibar’s proven ability to organize teams under pressure with Sevilla’s technical strengths, seeking a balance that could push the club back into European contention while stabilizing performances in the league. The evaluation period will be telling for both the coach and the squad as they navigate a challenging schedule and set the tone for the remainder of the campaign.