Sporting de Gijón has dismissed Gerardo García from his role leading the club’s scouting department. The move brings a definitive end to a foundational chapter of the club’s sporting management under Grupo Orlegi.
A foundational exit at Mareo
According to reporting first detailed by La Nueva España, García’s exit leaves David Guerra as the sole remaining executive from the original organizational chart established when the Mexican ownership group arrived in Asturias. Guerra has nonetheless been distanced from day-to-day sporting decisions.
An unexpected meeting at dusk
The decision to part ways with García was communicated by Grupo Orlegi president Alejandro Irarragorri.
The timing caught observers by surprise. Ownership had reportedly spent considerable time evaluating potential changes within the scouting department, driven by dissatisfaction with recent transfer market outcomes.
Methodology under the microscope
During his tenure, García managed the day-to-day operations of the first-team squad and spearheaded player acquisitions. Responsibilities eventually shifted following the arrival of Israel Villaseñor, who assumed greater oversight of the senior squad while García transitioned to focus strictly on talent identification and scouting operations.
Public reception proved challenging from the outset. External critics frequently questioned a methodology shaped by the specific operational framework of Orlegi Sports—an approach that marked a sharp departure from traditional Spanish professional football models.
Friction points and remaining figures
Criticism from supporters and observers often centered on repetitive transfer targets across multiple windows and limited strategic alternatives. Outlets describe these issues as compounded by modest financial investment from ownership into the scouting apparatus.
Despite these friction points, Fredi Lobeiras—who served as García’s primary deputy—remains with Sporting de Gijón. He maintains split duties that also involve Santos Laguna.
Evaluating the road ahead
In the wake of the departure, Grupo Orlegi is actively evaluating candidates to reinforce its scouting network. Recent discussions have involved Borja de Matías, a coach with prior experience inside the club who previously worked as an assistant under Abelardo Fernández and briefly under Miguel Ángel Ramírez. De Matías later gained international experience scouting for Newcastle United and serving as talent director for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qadsiah FC.
Sporting management is proceeding without immediate urgency to name a definitive successor. The restructuring follows the appointment of general director Pepe Riestra, whose expanded oversight now allows him to focus directly on the club’s sporting blueprint. Final authority on restructuring the scouting division rests with Alejandro Irarragorri.
