Morning of the Long Knives at the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia. ElPozo announced Javi Rodríguez’s sudden dismissal at 4:59 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon. Javi Rodríguez, born in Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Barcelona, on March 26, 1974, leaves the Catalan coach position after a season and a half, without securing any titles. Despite this, he leaves the ham team in third position in the First Division and qualifies for the Spanish Cup.
The recent defeat against Jimbee Cartagena (2-3) on the final day of the League, combined with the earlier Copa del Rey elimination in January against Melon (5-0), accelerated events. This led to the direct intervention of ElPozo’s owner, Tomás Fuertes, who sought emergency solutions after six seasons without winning a title. The goal is to avoid a second consecutive campaign without reaching a final, a situation that had not occurred in 21 years.
According to Onda Regional, Tomás Fuertes and President José Antonio Bolarín arrived at the Palacio de los Deportes around 1:00 p.m., following an emergency meeting at the Alhama factory. During this time, Javi Rodríguez conducted the pre-match press conference in front of the Córdoba World Heritage Site.
By 3:00 p.m., Tomás Fuertes informed Javi Rodríguez of his dismissal in person.
Rodriguez had joined the Grana entity in the summer of 2022 from Industrias Santa Coloma, succeeding Diego Giustozzi after the Argentine’s four-year tenure. Javi Rodríguez’s contract concluded on June 30, and ElPozo Murcia decided against renewing it. Despite this, his name remains President Joan Laporta’s favorite should Jesús Velasco leave for the National Team. This Sunday in Córdoba, the team will be led by second coach Dani Martínez, alongside Brazilian Vinicius Teixeira, the Sports Coordinator.
Javi Rodríguez’s dismissal marks an atypical circumstance in ElPozo Murcia’s history. The Barcelona coach becomes only the third to be dismissed in the 35-year history of the ham team. Notably, it had been 25 seasons since the Grana club parted ways with a coach before the end of their contract.
ElPozo Murcia is already working on securing Juan Francisco Fuentes’ return (born September 12, 1979, in Murcia).
The Murcian coach, who was considered in 2002 but passed over for Javi Rodríguez, is currently with Nagoya Oceans in Japan. Where he has won five consecutive Japanese F-League titles. His replacement will be another Spaniard, Imanol Arregui, a former Osasuna Magna player.
Juan Francisco Fuentes, proud of his origins in the Infante neighborhood, knows the ham club well. He began coaching the children’s team at 18, accumulating 13 seasons in its lower categories. In 2013, he left to join Kazma Sport Club Kuwait, winning the League. Fuentes had two experiences in Italy’s Serie A with Luparense and Acqua&Sapone, followed by two seasons in Belgium with Halle Gooik (current Anderlecht), winning the League and Cup.
His contract with Nagoya Oceans ends next month, and ElPozo Murcia aims to expedite his arrival. This move is to ensure he leads the team in the Spanish Cup held in Cartagena, where they will face Jimbee, their regional nemesis, in the quarterfinals on March 22. After 11 years, Fuentes is gearing up to return home.