Ludogorets Targets Spanish Coach Albert Riera
Ludogorets is reportedly eyeing a Spanish coach to lead the team for the upcoming season. According to "Tema Sport," the club is considering Albert Riera, a 44-year-old Spanish coach. Riera was recently dismissed by Eintracht Frankfurt after failing to qualify the team for European competitions this season.
Riera took over Eintracht Frankfurt in February and led the team in 14 matches, achieving 4 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses. The team finished in 8th place. His contract was set to expire on June 30, with an option for extension based on performance. Reports from German media suggest that Riera also had issues with the club's management and some team leaders, leading to a loss of fan support.
At the end of last year, Riera's name was linked with Red Star Belgrade, but the club ultimately reappointed Dejan Stanković. Riera made a name for himself at Celje, where he won the Slovenian championship recently. He also led Celje to the quarterfinals of the Conference League last year, where they were eliminated by Fiorentina. In the 2022/23 season, he won the Slovenian title with Olimpija Ljubljana. He has previously coached Bordeaux and Galatasaray.
Ludogorets is almost certain to have a new coach for the next season. The chances of Per-Matias Høgmo remaining in charge are minimal, unless Ludogorets finishes second and fails to secure a more suitable candidate. The club has already received numerous coaching proposals.
In addition to a new coach, Ludogorecs will likely lose several players, including Dinis Almeida, who is moving to CSKA, Pedro Naresi, Olivier Verdun, and Mateus Machado.
This is huge news for Ludogorets! Albert Riera has the experience and the track record to take the team to the next level. But can he handle the pressure of the Bulgarian league and get the job done? Let's see how this plays out!