During a holiday trip to Spain, British journalist John Carlin attended a football forum in Madrid, where discussions turned to the influx of world-class managers into the Premier League. With the financial clout of English football drawing big-name tacticians like magnets, their varying philosophies have undoubtedly broadened the tactical horizons of British football. However, as Crickex Login discussions suggest, even the best coaches struggle to reshape an entire football culture overnight.
While managers like Arsène Wenger, José Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri, and Mauricio Pochettino have built years of Premier League experience, Spain remains proud that La Liga’s quality has not been compromised by the departure of top coaching talent. In fact, a new generation of promising tacticians is rising within La Liga, thanks to their deep-rooted understanding of Spain’s footballing traditions. Standout names include Eusebio Sacristán at Real Sociedad, Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla, Quique Setién at Las Palmas, and Eduardo Berizzo at Celta Vigo.
This week, Spanish outlet EFE interviewed two of La Liga’s standout coaches—Eusebio and Sampaoli. Of particular note were Eusebio’s insights, which offered a masterclass for aspiring coaches. When asked which figures influenced him the most during his career as a player and coach, Eusebio named Vicente Cantatore and Johan Cruyff. From Cantatore, he learned how to fully unlock a player’s initiative. From Cruyff, he understood the essence of what football is truly about. Cantatore, a revered Chilean coach in the 1980s and 1990s, mentored Eusebio during his playing days at Real Valladolid.
Eusebio also reflected on his time as Frank Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona. “That role taught me how to lead a team, build trust through dialogue, and earn players’ respect,” he said. The experience proved pivotal for his transition to an independent managerial role. With current Barcelona coach Luis Enrique reluctant to commit to a contract renewal, speculation swirled about whether Eusebio might return to the club. He responded thoughtfully: “My career has intersected with Barça three times. First, as a player in the Dream Team era; then as Rijkaard’s assistant; and later as head coach of Barça B.”
“Since joining Real Sociedad, though, Barcelona has become a distant chapter,” Eusebio added. “The club’s long-term sporting project and positive environment give me confidence that this is the right place to realize my ambitions. We may not have Barça’s scale, but we share the same hunger to succeed.”
Despite being overlooked for Barcelona’s top job—unlike predecessors like Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, and Luis Enrique—Eusebio remains determined to prove his worth. Over the past year, his work at Real Sociedad has shown that he’s not just another face in the dugout. With a clear vision and strong results, he’s helping raise the bar for La Liga’s “middle class,” alongside the likes of Sampaoli, Setién, and Berizzo.
As Crickex Login conversations increasingly spotlight these rising managerial stars, one thing becomes clear: Eusebio carries not just tactical talent, but the unmistakable spirit of Barcelona in everything he does.