Llorenç Serra Ferrer

Infobox Football biography
playername = Llorenç Serra Ferrer


fullname = Llorenç Serra Ferrer
nickname = Ferrer, Serra
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1953|5|3
cityofbirth = Majorca
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub =
position = Head coach
manageryears = 1985-1993
1993-1997
2000-2001
2004-2006
2006-2008
managerclubs = Mallorca
Betis
Barcelona
Betis
AEK Athens

Llorenç Serra Ferrer (born March 4, 1953) is a Spanish football manager.

Early Years

He was born in Majorca, Spain and also played in the lower leagues with the club. He started his coaching career with UD Poblense guiding them to the Segunda División B. He then moved to Real Mallorca where he made a name for himself. His coaching assignment was with Real Betis in 1993 whom he guided to promotion in his first season and also finishing 3rd in their first season in the top flight. In 1997, he moved to FC Barcelona as the youth coach with Louis van Gaal. He later became the head coach in 2000 when Van Gaal was sacked. He lasted as the coach for few seasons before reverting back to the post of youth director.

Real Betis

In 2004, he re-joined Real Betis and guided them to one of their most successful season. They won the Copa del Rey as well as finishing fourth in the league which helped them to qualify to the Champions League for the first time in their history. They also managed to pull a surprise by defeating the much fancied Chelsea FC in an otherwise disappointing season both at home and Europe.

AEK Athens

He joined AEK Athens in summer 2006. He is a firm believer of rotation policy and giving more chances to youngsters. He believes that ""My motto is that the sun must rise for everybody, so the person who makes the most of his moment is the one who succeeds. I have no qualms about sending an 18-year-old on to the pitch. I am not the only one, of course, but I want to contribute and give chances to young players."

In AEK Athens, he gained fans' respect, having beaten Hearts twice in Champions League Qualification round, Lille and AC Milan in UEFA Champions League group stages (These two wins were the first wins for AEK Athens in the Champions League), he defeated arch rivals Panathinaikos in the Super League, and helped them to 2nd spot in his first season,in which he had great success both in European competitions and domestically.In his second season in-charge, things started off brightly, on May 25 Llorenc signed a 4 year extension to his contract which was to expire at the end of the 2007/08 season [ [http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=543298.html AEK coach extends contract] ] . On August 3 AEK was drawn against Sevilla FC in the Champions League 3rd Qualifying round, "The tie(vs Sevilla) will be intensely emotional for me," said the veteran Spanish coach. "I will return to a city I love very dearly." [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=567320.html AEK vs Sevilla] ] .,but things started to go sour after defeat in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League ,defeats to Iraklis and rivals Panathinaikos, this was followed by an early exit from the Greek Cup and more losses to arch rivals Olympiacos and Larissa in the League which caused him to drop from 1st to 3rd in the space of a week.On 12 February AEK parted company with Llorenç after a poor run of form and un-successful signings. [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=657089.html AEK call time on coach Serra Ferrer] ]

Honours

Real Betis
*Spanish Cup: 2005

References

External links

* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/entrenadores/historial.asp?ent=275 La Liga stats]
* [http://www.fcbarcelona.com/eng/historia/historia/serraferrer.shtml Bio at www.fcbarcelona.com]
* [http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=626 Bio at AEK homepage]
* [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/news/Kind=1/newsId=479642.html?cid=rssfeed&att=index UEFA News]
* [http://www.uefa.com/footballEurope/Club=50129/coach.html UEFA.com Profile]