Sporting, an exciting challenge for Miguel Ángel Ramírez 

Miguel Ángel Ramírez takes charge of Sporting Gijón in what is his first challenge as head coach in Spain. The Canary Island-born coach is committed to the Asturian club until June 2024 and is ready to make his debut in the Copa del Rey in a demanding calendar.

Sporting is betting on a coach who, despite his age (38 years old), has come a long way so far. A qualified teacher, with a degree in Physical Education and a doctorate in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Ramírez trained in the youth teams of UD Las Palmas, Deportivo Alavés and the Qatar national youth teams, where he was linked to the Aspire Academy and became U17 coach.

In 2018 he moved to Ecuadorian football to become director of the Independiente del Valle academy. A year later he was appointed head of the IDV first team, which he made champions of the 2019 Copa Sudamericana by eliminating, among others, Corinthians of Brazil in the semi-finals and Colon of Argentina in the final. The following year, he qualified Independiente for the Copa Libertadores qualifiers. Internacional de Porto Alegre in Brazil and Charlotte FC, where he became their first ever MLS coach, were his latest challenges.

His notable role as a trainer was evident at the last World Cup, where a significant number of players from the Ecuador and Qatar national teams had been helped by the new coach during their training periods.

“I am very happy, but I also feel a lot of responsibility. I hope to be up to the task and help build this great project,” said Ramírez. “You have to be brave to face challenges, and if they are difficult I like them even more. Challenges have built me as a coach and as a person.”