FCB Magpies are pleased to announce that Alfonso Cortijo has agreed terms to take up the vacant role of Head Coach.
Alfonso Cortijo returns to FCB Magpies for his second spell along with Javi Rios, who will join the Fitness and Performance team.
The former Cadiz, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla player where he was team mates with footballing legend Maradona, returns for a second stint as manager with the Magpies.
Cortijo, no stranger to Gibraltarian football, after having previous spells at Glacis and St Joseph's, brings a vast wealth of coaching experience with him, especially after having two tours of China at Beijing Guoan and DL Pro FC.
Cortijo said of his appointment "I am really happy to return to FCB Magpies, I always felt I had unfinished business with the club. I had to cut the opportunity short last time as I was offered a lucrative chance to go back to China I could not refuse, and thankfully FCB Magpies understood and allowed me to leave, but I never forgot my time with them, which was so enjoyable, especially working with Jansen and our Chairman Haig.
These last few years I have been following them, especially the last 18 months. You could see me in the stands in the Victoria Stadium supporting the team, and I must give credit to my predecessor Nathan, what he did was brilliant, not just for the club but also for Gib football, he created another contender, culminating in a well deserved victory in the Rock Cup final."
On Cortijos appointment Magpies Director of Football Jansen said "It was always important that we kept some continuity from our time with Nathan, we did not want to disrupt the momentum we have achieved so far, so we were always looking for a smooth transition, so Alfonso's appointment was a no brainer so to speak. He knows us, and we know him, plus he had been following our progress in person at the stadium or online via the Gibraltar FA TV channel, so he knew the players and their way of playing. Now he just needs to get to know them as people and their characters."
Chairman Haig Oundjian expressed his delight "Alfonso always kept a keen eye on our club, he really never left in a way, he was always present in the stands and shared his thoughts with us on the teams progress. I am delighted he has accepted this challenge, and hopefully he can keep our upward trend going".
Cortijo and Javi Rios will be presented to the club staff and players today, where he will address the team, and his plans for the coming European Campaign and League Season.