Real Mallorca supporters were stunned when their newly appointed coach, Martín Demichelis, left the club just a day after committing to a two-year contract — to join RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
A sudden exit
Demichelis had only just addressed supporters, speaking of rebuilding, commitment and enthusiasm. Within 24 hours, news broke that he was leaving. Sporting director Pablo Ortells had been working closely with him on a squad capable of returning to LaLiga, and the departure caught the club completely off guard.
The Klopp connection
According to the German newspaper Bild, Jürgen Klopp played a key role. Klopp, who is head of global soccer for Red Bull’s network of clubs, is reported to have met Demichelis at a sports club in Santa Ponsa, near his home in Mallorca, and persuaded him that Leipzig was the right move.
Demichelis spent a decade at Bayern Munich, as a player and later as coach of the reserve team, giving him strong credentials in German football.
Leipzig were reported to be paying a release clause of around €2.5 million.
The fallout
The timing could hardly have been worse for Mallorca, who face a complicated summer after relegation. Players who had been ready to stay under Demichelis may now reconsider, and fans — already unhappy with the club’s leadership — reacted angrily on social media.
The candidates
The club reportedly reduced a long list of possible replacements to three:
- Luis Carrión, the former Oviedo and Las Palmas coach;
- Luis García Fernández, the Asturian coach who took Las Palmas to the Segunda División play-offs after finishing fifth, and who played for Mallorca earlier in his career;
- Pablo Hernández, the former Leeds United favourite, who took Castellón to the play-offs before they were knocked out by Almería.
The club eventually chose Luis García.
Other concerns
The club has also warned that it is unlikely to match last season’s 23,000 season ticket holders, with many supporters waiting to see the new coach before renewing.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old winger Jan Virgili is reportedly keen to leave rather than play in the second division. Barcelona, his former club, retain rights including a share of any future sale and an option to buy him back, and relegation has significantly reduced his market value.
