LLORENç SERRA FERRER

'Lorenzo Serra Ferrer' (born March 4, 1953) is a Spanish football manager currently employed by AEK Athens FC.
He was born in Mallorca and also played in the lower leagues with the club. He started his coaching career with UD Poblense guiding them to the Segunda División B. He then moved to Real Mallorca where he made a name for himself. His coaching assignment was with Real Betis in 1993 whom he guided to promotion in his first season and also finishing 3rd in their first season in the top flight. In 1997, he moved to FC Barcelona as the youth coach with Louis van Gaal. He later became the head coach in 2000 when Van Gaal was sacked. He lasted as the coach for few seasons before reverting back to the post of youth director.
In 2004, he re-joined Real Betis and guided them to one of their most successful season. They won the Copa del Rey as well as finishing fourth in the league which helped them to qualify to the Champions League for the first time in their history. They also managed to pull a surprise by defeating the much fancied Chelsea in an otherwise disappointing season both at home and Europe.
He joined AEK Athens in summer 2006. He is a firm believer of rotation policy and giving more chances to youngsters. He believes that ""My motto is that the sun must rise for everybody, so the person who makes the most of his moment is the one who succeeds. I have no qualms about sending an 18-year-old on to the pitch. I am not the only one, of course, but I want to contribute and give chances to young players."
In AEK Athens, he gained fans' respect, having beaten Hearts twice in Champions League Qualification round, arch rivals Panathinaikos, and Lille and Milan, in Champions League (These two wins were the first ones for AEK Athens in the Champions League)
On the 25 of May Llorenc signed a 4 year extension to his contract which was to expire at the end of the 2007/08 season [1] .
On August 3 'AEK' was drawn against Sevilla FC in the Champions League 3rd Qualifying round,"The tie will be intensely emotional for me," said the veteran Spanish coach. "I will return to a city I love very dearly."[2]

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External links

External links

★ La Liga stats

★ Bio at www.fcbarcelona.com

★ Bio at AEK homepage

★ UEFA News

★ UEFA.com Profile