Manzano back in Atlético fold seven years later

The soap opera has drawn to a close. Although he was the fourth choice to take over at Atlético Madrid behind Luis Enrique, Rafa Benítez and Joaquín Caparrós, Gregorio Manzano has agreed to take charge of the stuttering side next season. Manzano agreed terms with the club he coached in 2003-04, when he guided it to a seventh-place finish in La Liga.

Manzano is one of Spain's most experienced coaches, this being his 18th posting over the past two decades. His most notable success came in two stints as coach of Mallorca. In the first, 2002-03, he led the Balearic side to King's Cup glory and in the final year of his second tenure, from 2006 to 2010, Mallorca finished a club record fifth in Primera División and qualified for Europe. Unfortunately, Uefa denied the club continental competition because of its financial difficulties, which also resulted in Manzano's departure.

The veteran tactician has been handed a one-year deal by Atlético for a season that will likely be one of consolidation. Many of Atlético's star players- Diego Forlán, Sergio Agüero, David de Gea and Diego Godín- are expected to leave and there is little scope of any marquee signings to replace them as Atlético cannot offer Champions League competition.

Manzano, though, has a reputation for making the best of limited resources and steadying wayward ships, as he did last September when he took over at floundering Sevilla and guided it to fifth place in La Liga.