Official: Abelardo becomes new Espanyol head coach Espanyol Signs until the end of the season

Abelardo Fernandez has been appointed as Espanyol's head coach on a deal until the end of the season.

The former Sporting Gijon and Alaves boss is Los Periquitos' third coach of the season, with both David Gallego and Pablo Machin having been dismissed.

Abelardo arrives with the goal of lifting a club who have been in freefall in recent months, as exemplified by their standing at the bottom of LaLiga Santander.

Inaki Tejada and Tomas Hervas will also join the coaching team, while Abelardo will oversee his first training session on December 30 at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque.

That same afternoon, Abelardo will be presented at 16:00 CET in the Juan Segura Palomares auditorium.

The challenge for Abelardo is huge as Espanyol are currently five points off salvation in LaLiga Santander, but saying that, the 49-year-old is an expert in these matters as he managed to save Sporting and Alaves in a situation very similar to the one of the Catalan side are going through.