Saturday 31st Aug 2019
Welcome to Benidorm Javier, how are you settling in?
I live in San Juan, so I know the city well and I love it. After seeing that smaller and less likely cities have reached La Liga, Benidorm is a great challenge for me.
You've been involved with football in various capacities for a long time, what has your professional highlight been so far?
As a player, winning the European Cup Winners' Cup against Arsenal in 1980 and the European Super Cup with Valencia CF at the great Nottingham Forest, we were the first Spanish club to win it. As a sports director, bringing Hector Cuper, Ranieri and Benitez to VCF was great success. In addition to the two Champions League finals and winning two Leagues. Also having hired players such asAyala, Baraja Kily Gonzalez, Cafiizares, Ilie, Vicente, Villa, Aimar, Carew, Miguel etc.
At Valencia you were initially a player, then manager and eventually taking a position as Director of football -which did you enjoy the most and how does seeing a club from so many different perspectives help you in your role today?
It is best to be a footballer, it is where you enjoy the most. The responsibility is greater as a Sports Director and as a coach, but I like any role that I can play in football. I love football and it has been everything in my life.
You were fortunate to work with Rafa Benitez but it was only after your personal request that the club approached him to manage, what did you recognise in him that made him a good manager and is your management style similar to his in any ways?
I had known Rafa for a long time and knew his way of working and his tactical seriousness. Benitez is a great coach and I have taken my style from the different coaches I've had and in the end looking for my own.
Prior to signing on to be manager for Benidorm, what were you doing?
I worked as a commentator for the SER and I collaborate. I have also been training teams close to Alicante.
What made you decide that this would be the right project for you to be involved in at this stage in your career?
The city, the stadium, being backed by important people and professionals and the project. Benidorm is a cosmopolitan city, we need an international, multiracial team that fits all. In this way the fans will feel the club as their own.
We've seen a lot of takeovers in various leagues that have propelled teams onto greater heights, what are your realistic hopes for where this new dawn can take Benidorm?
The goal is marked, Benidorm CD to professional football. Time will tell us if we are crazy or really if the city wants to enjoy quality football.
This first year we must lay the foundations of a great project. We need the city stadium for the public to approach and feel proud of their team.