Real Oviedo Head Coach Cuco Ziganda today appeared in the Press Room at the Carlos Tartiere, where he announced his decision to not continue at Real Oviedo next season.
Before Ziganda began his address, the Club explained his wish to not issue any official communication prior to the press conference. The coach then explained the reasons for his decision, saying that “it is a personal decision for next year, which has been meditated and thought out. After a few days of pondering it, we are not going to continue next year. Oviedo is a very lively city, where football is hugely important, and I know what Real Oviedo represents here. My reward is being here and being able to say goodbye to all the fans, the media, and the people who have accompanied me during this time. Thank you specifically to the workers at El Requexón, the medical staff, kitmen, players, captains, and communication department workers… they have made me feel like a coach again. Thanks to Arnau and César for seeking me out. I didn’t think I was going to live it in this way and I feel very lucky. I’m not going to say that everything was perfect, there were different points of view, but that’s insignificant compared to what I have been privileged to experience. It has been a real luxury and a source of pride to be able to represent this team. I have been myself and I have enjoyed it. Everyone has respected me a lot. I am very proud and privileged to be here.”
Subsequently the coach from Navarre answered the questions put to him by the media, emphasising that his non-continuity is “a personal decision. I have not received a direct proposal. The club is bigger than any one person and must make decisions the best way it sees fit. The club is above everything.”
Regarding the best moments of his time with Los Azules, Ziganda acknowledged that, “I remember the (welcome on the) ramp on the day we played Ibiza, it was spectacular. Great team and fans. It was a true sports tsunami. I have had experiences with great teams, but what happened that day was spectacular. I also remember the derbies, I didn’t know about them, and wow… living it makes you cry. Very proud to be able to experience it on the pitch and how we’ve celebrated it.”
When asked about the Real Oviedo that he encountered upon his arrival and the one he is now leaving, the coach highlights that, “when I arrived, the Club was tense. There was an absence of the potential it has due to wear and tear. This year I have been lucky enough to have Paco and Luis Manuel, two people who have always been with me. Víctor, Antonio, Marcos, Manolo, and Miguel have shown me what this club really is, that have made it part of my identity. The Club has a lot of potential, and the potential it has is because of the fans. We started with seven or eight thousand and at the last game there were more than twenty thousand. Those of us who have been lucky enough to participate, enjoy it and value it.”
Finally, when asked about the memory he hopes to leave here and a message for the fans, Ziganda believes that “the best memory that can be left of me is that I am a gentleman. Thank you to the fans. Another coach will come in that will encourage and excite you. I thank you for all the love you have shown me. The strength of the team is the fans, the blue shirts, the elderly supporters... That motor must be taken care of and kept alive so that it continues to function and move forward. Thank you, I have been very proud to be able to live this life experience and these professional sensations.”
