Osasuna has announced the dismissal of manager Alessio Lisci after just one season in charge at El Sadar. Lisci, who arrived with a strong reputation from a successful two-year spell at Mirandes, was let go following a disappointing run of form towards the end of the campaign, prompting Los Rojillo to seek new leadership.
Throughout the season, Lisci’s team struggled with consistency. Despite appearing to be in contention for European spots with only five games remaining, a string of five consecutive defeats saw Osasuna nervously relying on other results on the final day of the season to secure their top-flight status.
In a statement released on Monday night, just two days after confirming their survival, Osasuna expressed gratitude to Lisci for his dedication and respectful treatment of the fans. The 40-year-old coach is the first manager to be sacked by Sporting Director Braulio Vazquez. This decision marks a period of relative instability for the club, especially when compared to the long tenure of his predecessor, Jagoba Arrasate, as Vazquez now embarks on the search for his fourth manager in three years.
During Lisci’s 42 games at the helm, Osasuna secured 14 victories, 9 draws, and suffered 19 defeats, scoring 63 goals and conceding 61. In La Liga, they finished in 17th place with 42 points, narrowly avoiding relegation on head-to-head records. Lisci himself acknowledged before the season’s conclusion that the team had been caught off guard by the intensity of the relegation battle, having not anticipated being in such a precarious position on the final day given their points total.
Ultimately, Lisci’s tenure was hampered by a lack of consistent connection with his players, leading to a season plagued by inconsistency. While attacking talents like Ante Budimir and Victor Munoz showed flashes of brilliance, the team’s defensive solidity, a hallmark of previous seasons, was notably absent.
