Spanish football’s most successful director of football, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo – known as Monchi – has taken over as sporting director general at Espanyol. The appointment arrives with only three league games left and the Catalan side perched just above LaLiga’s relegation zone after a winless 2026. Owner Alan Pace, a former Wall Street banker, hopes Monchi’s track record can reverse the slide.

Monchi earned his ‘Midas’ reputation at Sevilla, signing or developing stars like Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic and turning the club into a trophy‑laden powerhouse that sold players for hundreds of millions. A brief, troubled spell at Roma followed, yet his recent ties to U.S. investors—including NFL legend JJ Watt’s backing of Espanyol—show he still commands elite resources.

With Espanyol’s last win coming in December against Athletic Club, the club faces a do‑or‑die run while Pace’s other venture, Burnley, has already slipped out of the Premier League. Monchi now controls recruitment and tactical input, giving him the authority to reshape the squad before the final fixtures. Whether his influence translates into points will decide if Espanyol survives this season.