Reports in Spain say “negotiations have intensified” for former Sheffield United boss Rubén Sellés to take charge at Real Zaragoza.
The Segunda División side have won 1 of 10 league games and sit bottom after a 5-0 defeat at CyD Leonesa, prompting a renewed push to appoint a new head coach.
⚽️ El @RealZaragoza negocia con el técnico valenciano de 42 años #RubénSellés, para convertirse en el nuevo entrenador del equipo.
👉 Emilio Larraz volvería al filial y la idea es que el nuevo técnico debute ante el @RealSporting el próximo domingo.https://t.co/vFQwvZknJ8
— Cope Zaragoza (@CopeZaragoza) October 19, 2025
What Happened and Why It Matters
Zaragoza parted company with Gabi earlier this month before installing Emilio Larraz, but a heavy 5-0 loss at the weekend has accelerated plans to change course again.
Multiple Spanish outlets report the board are “closer” to hiring Sellés, who left Sheffield United in September after 6 straight defeats in all competitions. The 42-year-old has never managed in Spain, yet his profile and recent EFL experience have made him the leading candidate to stabilise a turbulent situation.
For EFL watchers, Sellés moving swiftly back into work after his Bramall Lane spell is notable. He was appointed by United in June and dismissed in mid-September with the team bottom of the Championship, before the Blades turned back to Chris Wilder. That rapid rise and fall, followed by an immediate route back via Zaragoza, underscores how quickly reputations can reset across borders, especially for coaches with multilingual, multi-league experience.
Ruben Sellés has been sacked as Sheffield United manager. #sufc #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/c5ymzECPoU
— Pete O’Rourke (@SportsPeteO) September 14, 2025
The Zaragoza brief is clear: halt a slide after 10 matches, rebuild confidence, and push the club away from danger in a division where momentum swings are unforgiving. Given Sellés’ recent firefighting roles in England, and spells in Denmark and Portugal as an assistant, the board appear to view his methods as transferable to a squad short on wins and belief.
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
If confirmed, Sellés would inherit a dressing room in need of clarity and quick wins. The calendar offers little breathing space: fixtures arrive every few days in the Segunda, and early results will shape the tone of the project. The reported plan is for Larraz to revert to the reserve team once a new head coach is installed, streamlining decision-making and giving Sellés clear authority from day one.
From an EFL perspective, his appointment would be watched closely. A successful stint could reset the narrative from the brief Bramall Lane tenure and reinforce a trend of cross-channel coaching careers that oscillate between England and mainland Europe. It would also close the door, at least for now, on any immediate Championship return for the Spaniard in a season already marked by rapid managerial churn.
| Team | From | To | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton (caretaker) | 7 November 2022 | 10 November 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Southampton | 12 February 2023 | 28 May 2023 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 11.76 |
| Reading | 26 June 2023 | 6 December 2024 | 78 | 34 | 18 | 26 | 43.59 |
| Hull City | 6 December 2024 | 15 May 2025 | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 32.14 |
| Sheffield United | 18 June 2025 | 14 September 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Total | 130 | 45 | 31 | 54 | 34.62 | ||
Zaragoza’s immediate priority is to secure points and lift the mood at La Romareda. Short-term changes are likely to centre on structure without the ball, set-plays, and a defined attacking route to goal, areas that can yield quick gains with clear principles and repetition. With the league table compressed after 10 rounds, even a modest run can drag teams out of the bottom 4.
