ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida has announced the dismissal of Dani Martínez. Just a month after the club’s board rejected his resignation, the Catalan coach was let go amid a results crisis, following 10 consecutive winless matches and ahead of crucial fixtures against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. The team’s qualification for the Spanish Cup came at the last minute, thanks to results from other direct rivals. The situation became untenable after a defeat in the derby against Movistar Inter last Saturday.
Little remains of the team that reached the finals of the Spanish Cup and League last season, achievements that had earned Dani Martínez a contract renewal, partnering with Brazilian Vinicius Teixeira. With only 22 points and sitting in seventh place, ElPozo Murcia, with a record of six wins, four draws, and five losses, scoring 43 goals and conceding 36, has recorded its lowest points tally in the first league in 25 years.
Dani Martínez’s tenure at ElPozo Murcia lasted just 348 days. He took over the team on February 16, 2024, following the dismissal of Javi Rodríguez, marking his second stint as coach. The Catalan coach initially joined in 2022 as a replacement for Diego Giustozzi, after 17 consecutive seasons under Eduardo Sao Tiago, “Duda” (Jimbee Cartagena). The Argentine had spent four seasons in charge of the team, with their last title being the 2017 King’s Cup. This marked an almost eight-year trophy drought, compounded by historical setbacks and traumatic disappointments.
the decision
The decision to dismiss Dani Martínez was made “after analyzing the results over the past two months,” according to a club statement, which confirmed his departure at 8:58 p.m. on Wednesday, shortly after the Spanish Cup draw was held in Murcia at 1:00 p.m. Martínez becomes the fourth coach dismissed in the club’s 36-year history and the second in just 12 months. Key players like Rafa Santos, Marcel Marques, and captain Felipe Valerio bid farewell to the Catalan coach with messages of gratitude and affection.
ElPozo Murcia’s board is pinning its hopes on Josan González as the solution. The Andalusian coach is familiar with the club, having spent seven seasons managing the Grana subsidiary, winning two Second Division titles (2016 and 2018). The Puente Genil native left in January 2020 to manage Córdoba World Heritage until 2024. This summer, he embarked on a coaching adventure in Thailand. Leading the Imane academy and preparing to take charge of Black Pearl, one of Asia’s strongest teams.
Josan González returned to Thailand last Saturday after a winter break to prepare for the new season but spent several days in Murcia. He is expected to be able to free himself from his current commitments and accept ElPozo Murcia’s offer for the remainder of the season. González has prior experience managing the first team, having done so during the 2017 Spanish Cup due to a suspension of Eduardo Sao Tiago, “Duda,” and also served as an assistant to Diego Giustozzi. The Cordoba coach has long been considered a potential candidate, and now the time has come for his return.
