Noticeably “Russified” Javier Gracia will bring Rubin Kazan onto the football field of Makhachkala today. And the other day a Spanish specialist answered questions from the sports editorial staff of Realnoe Vremya and Rubin fans from among the Rubin Goods subscribers (a community on VK). The head coach of "Ruby" openly answered the burning questions about Solomon Kverkvelia, Gekdeniz Karadeniz and other "pain points" of the team. About this, as well as about "tiki-take", Josep Guardiola and even hockey "Ak Bars" - read in an exclusive interview with Javier Gracia.
"I'm ready to do anything for Rubin, but let's leave my hair alone."
- They say that nobody removed the task of getting the team to the Europa League. This is true?
I know that journalists like to talk about these tasks. Probably no one heard me say that going to Europe was one of the clear tasks either at the beginning of the season or now. I didn’t say that and I don’t intend to. I am not saying that we are not able to do this. But it is true that at the time of the conclusion of my contract it was said about the adaptation period of many players, assistants during the first year and an attempt to strive for this task in the next two seasons.
We decided to dilute the editorial questions with the most interesting questions from the fans. Continuing the topic of tasks, a question from Pastor Zhora. "Xavi, are you ready, if we go to Eurocups, to shave your head bald and train bald the whole next season?"
- (Dangerously touches a well-groomed hairstyle) I think I'm no longer at that age for such things. I am ready for a lot for the success of Rubin, for almost everything, but let's leave our hair alone ( laughs).
It seemed that at the training camp in the match with "Spartak" "Rubin" reached the peak of its form, and then the decline began. Is there such a thing or did it seem to me?
I think there were different matches and we played very well in all of them. Against Spartak, who wanted to win the match, it seemed easier to find opportunities to attack. With the Norwegians, which were closed more, it was more difficult. But I am satisfied.
For most of the season, fans resented Karadeniz not playing. At the box office, it seemed that at 37 he was still the strongest attacking player in Rubin. And what do you think?
This is the opinion of the fans. But in the first phase of the season, Karadeniz participated, played in important matches. And the results weren't very good. Then he played less often, but this does not mean that I am dissatisfied with the player's work. I think he did an exceptional job this offseason. At the moment he is a player who offers us an alternative and other possibilities in our attack, as in the case of Jonatas, Kanunnikov. At his age, Karadeniz should not be a player who is obliged to withstand responsibility for all games and minutes. I see it this way. He has to bring something special and not play in every match. I think that his participation should be different, important. He can get a lot of time, but not necessarily all the time and in all important matches.
Probably no one heard me say that going to Europe was one of the clear tasks either at the beginning of the season or now. I didn’t say that and I’m not going to
A question from Alexander Morozov. Why is Maxime Lestienne always playing in the wrong position on the left? And why does the Belgian have so little playing time?
Because, after all, 11 players are playing. In those moments when we select other players, we think that they are in better shape... I think Lestienne can play in different positions. Obviously, he has the qualities of a striker and can play on any flank. He can be a striker. This is my vision. He has always played like this in his career: left flank, right flank. This is not my whim, but his qualities.
“I don’t want to talk badly about Solomon”
Question from Igor Orlov. How was Sergio Sanchez better than Solomon Querqvelia? Age, experience, speed, desire to play for Ruby, personal qualities?
These are different players. Solomon, like Carlos Zambrano and Sergio Sanchez, takes the position of a legionnaire. In terms of attack, the dignity of Carlos and Sergio is probably higher. But I would not like to say who is better, because that would mean that the other is worse. And I don't want to talk badly about Solomon. He is a very good player. I don't think that three legionnaires in one position are good for the team.
Was the economic side taken into account? Kverkvelia is younger and more expensive. Sanchez is older and cheaper. Obviously, the former will grow in value, while the latter will not.
Do not know. We do not know what will happen with the price of Solomon and Sergio. One of Sergio's strengths is that he can play as a full-back on the right wing, as he has already played in this position at Rubin. This is one of the virtues of Sergio compared to Solomon. Everything else - details, talking about who is better and worse - is what I don't want to do. I appreciate Solomon as a person and a professional and wish him all the best. But you have to make decisions. The price tag at a transfer market is a relative thing.
It was rumored that the club was planning to part ways with Song in the winter. But he's on the team. In terms of fees, what do you think, will he add in the second part of the season?
I think he did a good job. He was sick in the last phase of preparation due to a blow in the control match. Nevertheless, of course, I expect more from Alex. I think we all need to look forward to more impact. In my opinion, he has not yet shown his level.
It seems that Nabiullin has become more reliable in defense. How do you rate his progress at Rubin during your work?
Yes, I think this player has improved. And this is logical. He is young, gaining experience in matches, and he has a desire to learn. I think this is possible thanks to work. First of all, he improved his defensive performance.
- A question from Marat Suleimanov. Is there a prospect of seeing Nabiullin on the left flank of the midfield?
I don't think this is Nabi's position. But he can play there. Sometimes you also need to duplicate the wingers on the lane so that both players become wingers. Bauer, by the way, can also play there. I like that our full-backs have attacking qualities.
Considering the future form of the team, I would like to thank Devic for what he did for Rubin. I think he did a lot and did it well until the last day. In the future, we would need to think about an alternative, about younger players.
"I was pleased with Maga, but he wanted to play more!"
Question from Almaz Nasybullin. What was the conversation with Ozdoev about? What did you say to him that the next day he flew to Grozny.
And when did that happen?
- The video came to the network from the training camp
- (Surprised) Filmed, right? When I spoke to him, he explained his situation to me. He said he wanted more minutes of play. I was pleased with this footballer. He seems to have had a good preseason, sometimes playing over midfield. I thought he was a player who could give the team a lot. But Maga wanted to play more.
- Many experts say that he did not grow up at Rubin. Why?
We are talking about a player who was called up to the Russian national team in last matches... As I said, this player has a future. V recent times we decided to place it above the midfield, but in a support with two players in the center. His position is the AOC or third center midfielder with an emphasis on attack.
- A question from Albert Sabitov. Do you see Akhmetov as the future star of Russian football?
I believe in him. I really want him to add. He studies, works hard, has various technical merits. He needs experience and physical development... As they say in Russia, “grow with meat”. I see him as a player with a great future. Just like in Makhatadze, Zhemaletdinov and other young players.
With the departure of Devic, there was only one clean forward in the team - Jonatas. This is fine? Are Kanunnikov, Lestienne, Karadeniz more accustomed to playing in other positions?
Considering the future form of the team, I would like to thank Devic for what he did for Rubin. I think he did a lot and did it well until the last day. In the future, we would need to think about an alternative, about younger players.
- But there will be no problems with the fact that there is only Jonatas left?
Devic could have his contract extended by two or more years. But next year we would have to pick a younger striker. I am not saying that Marco is not a guarantee. He is a goal guarantee. If he was with us, the team would be more balanced, with more opportunities. But his contract situation played an important role.
“Rubin didn’t buy anyone through this window. It suits you? There are no positions in the team that need to be strengthened?
In my opinion, I have the best team in the world. I have no choice. For me, my players are the best. I need to make them the best. Now I need to work on giving. Today we have 23 players, which is much less than at the beginning of the season. There were players who trained separately from the team. There were 30 of us. I think that this process is also left behind. Now we need to try to make the team more accurate, each time more competitive and with a desire for higher tasks.
"Arthur is a good translator, but does not want to become a coach"
- A question from Bulat Fakhrutdinov. Everyone was impressed by the video of your translator's work. Arthur - the future Mourinho?
Arthur is a very important person for me, because he is something like my voice. I think he is doing a very difficult and good job. The video, which was filmed in Spain, made news on all TV shows in Spain. This is a job that a good translator does. I'm just kidding, calling him not Arthur, but Arturinho.
There are players whom I know better, which is logical, I can orient and tell about their work, about the past stages with me. There are players known for monitoring clubs, previous stages. As a result, it is a collaborative process
- So he has the makings of a coach?
Do not know. You need to ask him. But I think no, he doesn't want to become a coach.
- You can put in a word in the lower leagues of Spain about the young coach ...
- (Laughs) I think that he feels good in his city, that he loves his city very much and is not ready to leave.
- Question from Almaz Nasybullin: Miranchuk - your idea or leadership?
Miranchuk is a young player from Russia with a great future, as he is already the main player in his team. There were many rumors about his arrival. As a result, he is not here. I don't think I should be talking about other people's players.
In general, what is the degree of your participation in the transfers of the club? Or is it your job to work with those that the guide will buy?
There are players whom I know better, which is logical, I can orient and tell about their work, about the past stages with me. There are players known for monitoring clubs, previous stages. As a result, it is a collaborative process.
Is it normal, in your opinion, that, having such a stadium as Kazan Arena, Rubin is still sometimes forced to play at Centralny?
These are not decisions that depend on what I say. This is due to the climate, the upcoming Confederations Cup, World Cup. I don’t know many things. If they ask me where I want to play, I would prefer the Kazan Arena, of course. But this does not depend on me. I do not attach much importance to this.
“Our goal is three points in the match against Anji.
- Which of the Russian players of Rubin surprised you from the good and the bad?
The ability to surprise arises when you do not expect anything and everything happens in spite of it. I always expected growth from my players, which is what happens with us. I was surprised by the constancy, the desire to develop among the Russians in Rubin. But I wouldn't be able to personalize that in one or two players. They evolved with the team. I mean the results, the game. Speaking of Nabiullina: Elmir's progress is interconnected with the growth of Burlak, other players who play less, like Ustinov. I think we are all getting better. So is the coach.
There are only 5 points to reach the Europa League zone. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of Rubin's main competitors in the fight for the 4th line in the standings?
I don't like talking about potential competitors. Our goal is 3 points in the match against Anji. I do not know how many points in the table we need to get into the four. But I'm sure we need 3 points in Makhachkala. This is our competitor. I will not talk about Lokomotiv, Terek and other teams that may become our competitors. We will see. As for the cup, our next match with Ural is important, of course.
I was surprised by the constancy, the desire to develop among the Russians in Rubin. But I couldn't personalize that in one or two players. They evolved with the team
How can you explain the paradox of Russian clubs' performances in European competitions? The rich (Zenit and CSKA) fail, while the poor Krasnodar and Rostov go further.
I don't think they are poor.
- What about Zenit and CSKA?
And compared to us. As for Zenit, they lost in the last seconds, minutes. The club also did a lot to continue its journey. Krasnodar played well two matches. They deserve this exit, just like Rostov. These are organized teams that work well and will definitely create problems for Espanyol and Celta or Manchester United. This has already happened, because Rostov lost the match against Atlético Madrid in only one action. And he beat Bayern.
"Spartak" this season is a strong candidate for champions "
- Can you imagine that Barcelona for 13 years has not been able to win any title: neither the championship, nor the cup?
This is completely impossible.
So the Spartak team, comparable in terms of title in the domestic arena, proves that nothing is impossible. Will Spartak become a champion after 13 years without any titles?
Did not know ( laughs). Spartak had a very good first part of the season. Yes, they did it many times in previous seasons. But in the second part, they were unable to maintain their shape. But I think that Spartak is a strong candidate for champions this season.
- A question from Ruzal Abdullin. Which of the RFPL teams do you like best?
I like Rubin. He is mine. I really appreciate mine. I believe in our work, I believe that we will play better every time and get top scores... I really believe. I don’t want to talk about other teams.
It was clear from the training camp that you are in good shape as a footballer. If you were a player, which one RFPL club and under whose direction would you like to play?
I don't want to underestimate any team or coach. I would probably go back to Spain. I think that the player and the coach should go where they want to see him. Few players and coaches have a choice. So I would wait to find out which club and which coach would like to see me. I would see who is interested in me as a player, as a person, in order to then correspond to this belief, so as not to disappoint anyone.
Do the fans keep joking that you deliberately held three training camps in Spain to extend your personal vacation?
Vacation? No ( laughs). When we had three days of rest, I flew to Kazan with some of the staff to see my family. My family is here. No vacation. Of course, I went to the training camp with the team in Spain, there are good conditions. It was comfortable for many reasons. But the most important thing is that the working conditions are good. It doesn't matter if it is Spain or another country.
- You have been in Kazan for a long time already. Did you have time to go to hockey?
- "AK Bars" ( three claps), "AK Bars" ( three claps). For a long time they were losing, but then they won the match. I was pleased because I went to the match, the team won. I think one of those things that I should try while in Kazan: going to a hockey game with my family is an experience that I should enjoy with them. My children should enjoy the snow. In Spain they would enjoy other things, but here I have to try to make them enjoy the local entertainment, of which there are many. You need to be positive.
I think one of those things that I should try while in Kazan: going to a hockey game with my family is an experience that I should enjoy with them.
Guardiola cannot match Barça at Bayern or Mansiti
Let's talk a little about Spanish football. Barcelona are underperforming this season and can be eliminated from the Champions League record early. What are the reasons?
- (Frowning sternly, shakes her head). Haven't departed yet! I think PSG is a great team, with a great coach - my friend. But if anyone is capable of completely changing this result, it is Barcelona. And then they played an important match against Atlético Madrid and managed to win 1: 2. They are fighting in the league and have made it to the cup final, where there is no Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. Let's see what happens in the Champions League. Of course, it will be difficult, but we'll see.
Under Guardiola, "tiki-taka" became very fashionable, but according to the current realities, it seems that she worked only in "Barcelona" named after Xavi and Iniesta, and not Pep. Your opinion?
This "tiki-taka" originated in Spain from Barcelona and the national team. This style of play is based on the high quality technique of individual players. There was a very good generation of players. Guardiola, Luis Aragones and del Bosque in the national team have created a very balanced team. It is very difficult to make Barcelona play in the same manner over time, because there is no Xavi, Puyol. Many different players come. The team will play differently. And Guardiola's coach at Bayern Munich and Mancity cannot match Barcelona. Even if we are talking about one coach. He has to play what his new players can play and play against teams that play differently from their style. I say this based on personal experience. And in Malaga, and here. We talked about the players, I also had to go through this process, despite the huge number of videos that I saw before arriving. I needed to take a close look, make mistakes, worry in order to learn and become better.
- It seems to me that Guardiola is mistakenly trying to play the same game as Barcelona. What do you think?
Do not know. I cannot dare say whether he is wrong or not. It seems to me that Guardiola is a great coach. Perhaps as you do?
- Nothing better than Javier Gracia, in my opinion.
Thanks ( laughs). I think all the coaches at the level of the European top clubs are good. Everything. Coaches are human, they make mistakes, they do something well, and something bad. But the coach is not the only one responsible for the game or the result of the team. He takes responsibility because this is our job, and it will be so. But everyone must be held accountable.
"I'm not superstitious"
Finally, a few more questions from Rubin fans that we haven't asked yet. Max Varshavsky asks: which company is your mobile phone?
Apple ( shows "iPhone").
- TeddGrey: what words in the Tatar language do you know?
Yes, I know a couple. I knew how "beautiful" would be.
- Mathur?
Exactly, matur! The other day I was in a Tatar restaurant and ate this ( ponders). Pochmak!
I think all the coaches at the European top club level are good. Everything. Coaches are human, they make mistakes, they do something well, and something bad. But the coach is not the only one responsible for the game or the result of the team.
- Ksenia Pechenkina: is there any ritual for good luck before important matches?
I don't think the result of the match depends on this. You need to prepare well for the match, work hard. I'm not superstitious.
- Arthur Mokeev: when will Rubin become the champion?
Hopefully soon.
- The question is from him: have you already understood that in Russia money is everything?
I don't know if they decide everything. But I don't like that.
After the interview, Javier Gracia congratulated the sports editor of Realnoe Vremya Artur Khalilullov on his birthday
Artur Khalilullov, translated by Aigul Ziyatdinova, photo by Oleg Tikhonov
With the head coach a Spaniard by mutual agreement of the parties.
Below is the biographical information about the trainer.
Spanish footballer and coach Javier (Xavi) Gracia Carlos (Javier "Javi" Gracia Carlos) was born on May 1, 1970 in Pamplona, Spain.
He started his football career in 1989 at the Athletic Bilbao club, of which he is a graduate. For three years he played in the second line-up, he was not involved in the base. He acted as a midfielder.
In 1992 he moved to Lleida from Lleida, which advanced to the top division.
From 1995 to 1999 he played for Real Sociedad, where he scored 12 goals in 106 matches. In Javi Gracia's playing career, it was the longest stay with one club.
From 1999 to 2002, the midfielder played for Villarreal.
Gracia spent the seasons 2002/03 and 2003/04 playing for Cordoba. In 2004 he finished his football career.
Between 2004 and 2005, Javi Gracia worked as a coach for one of Villarreal's youth teams.
From 2006 to 2008 he coached the third most important team football league Spain “Pontevedra”, with which they consistently became the first and second in the regular season, but both times failed to achieve a promotion in the class following the results of the playoffs.
From 2008 to 2010, Javi Gracia was the coach of another team in the third division - Cadiz. With her, in the very first year of work, he achieved a promotion in the class, but after an unsuccessful start to the second season, he was fired already in the middle of the championship.
In the 2010/11 season he coached the second team of Villarreal, in the 2012/13 season - Almeria.
"Rubin" chose the wrong coach who does not know Russian football - Karadeniz >>>
He also had experience in coaching in Greece - in the teams Olympiacos (Volos) and Kerkyra.
In September 2013, Gracia replaced Jose Luis Mendilibar on the coaching bridge of Osasuna from Pamplona, for the first time leading the team of the top division of the Spanish championship. However, he could not save her from relegation - “Osasuna” took 18th place at the end of the tournament, after which Gracia left the club.
Since May 2014, he has been the head coach of the Spanish “Malaga”. In the 2015/16 season, the team under his leadership took eighth place in the Spanish Championship.
On May 24, 2016, Gracia left the post of head coach of Malaga, on his own initiative terminating the current agreement, and a few days later signed a four-year contract with Rubin. The media reported that the salary of the Spanish specialist will be about 2.5 million euros per year.
Under the leadership of Gracia, Rubin finished ninth in the Russian Premier League in the 2016/17 season, and reached the semifinals in the Russian Cup, where he lost to the Yekaterinburg Ural.
"The decision to leave Malaga was given to me with great difficulty, but Rubin made an offer that cannot be refused," - the unexpected decision of Xavi Gracia surprised not only the Andalusian club fans, who did not want to part with him, but ... and many fans " Rubin ". And also caused. Not everyone knows the name of this Spanish specialist, not to mention his professional characteristics.
“Who is this anyway?”, “Hey, editors, you have a mistake in your last name - he's Garcia!”: Such comments under the news about the appointment of a new Rubin head coach indicate that they need an introduction.
Before Malaga
At the age of 19, Gracia began his professional career: he was listed with Athletic Bilbao. "Numbered" because in three years he did not play a single match for
first team. His entire playing career was spent in the middle peasants: Valladolid, Cordoba, Villarreal (before the era of European competition), and individually the best season of the defensive midfielder spent in the modest Lleida in Segunda. There Gracia was the leader of the team, scored 13 goals in a season, and his club became the champion and came out in the Example.
The main achievement of Xavi Gracia as a football player can be considered four seasons at Real Sociedad. There he played a little with Valery Karpin and finished third in the Spanish Championship in the 1997/98 season ahead of Real Madrid. But he did not have a solid place in the squad and again went to Segunda - just to Villarreal, which earned a promotion the following season.
After completing his playing career, Gracia worked for some time with the youth team of Villarreal, and then took a break, and only two years later, Xavi made another attempt to become a coach. Over the past eight years, he managed to change eight clubs. Among them was such a pleasant place of work as "Kerkyra" from the Greek resort island of Corfu (the stadium has a capacity of 2,600 spectators). In September 2013, Gracia took over the team from Examples - Osasuna. That team was remembered for the game of Oriol Riera (13 goals in the championship), as well as the fact that at home they drew with Barcelona and Real Madrid. True, on the road, Osasuna got 0: 7 and 0: 4, respectively, and at the end of the season they were knocked out of the elite. After that, Gracia signed a contract with Malaga.
Period at Malaga
The Andalusian club risked inviting a coach with rather dubious achievements, but the Malaga leadership did not have much choice. It is worth recalling that Malaga is a failed nouveau riche, a club that was bought by the Qatari businessman Sheikh Al-Thani. Then the team of Manuel Pellegrini was one step away from the Champions League semifinals, had a completely combat-ready composition, with Isco, Tulalan and Demichelis, and could spend more than 20 million euros on a promising Santi Cazorlu... But after a couple of years, Al-Thani lost interest in the club. All players were sold for which it was possible to help out at least some money. Pellegrini left, followed by Bernd Schuster. The budget was drastically reduced - in two years it decreased three (!) Times.
And the club relied on the youth, as well as on the coach who knows how to work with the youth - the undemanding Xavi Gracia. That summer, when Gracia became the coach of Malaga, the team sold five players for a total of 20 million euros, and acquired eight for 1.2 million euros. With this line-up, Gracia finished ninth in the championship, beating Barcelona on the road along the way. Note that this happened not in November, when Messi had a conflict with Enrique and the Catalans were in a fever, but at the end of February, when Barça was almost crowned ... One of the Spanish sports publications called that match "a lesson in tactics" for Enrique from Xavi Gracia : Malaga showed perfect compactness and played defensively with discipline. Moreover, the teams struck equally (!) Shots on goal.
Gracia put together a strong team from young and unknown players, and a year later ... it was sold out. Sergi Darder left for 12 million, Amrabat left, Huangmi left. Of the over 40 million euros raised for the players, the management has invested in new acquisitions ... about 5 million. But the coach seems to have established an uninterrupted conveyor for the emergence of quality football players out of nowhere.
Pupil Jose Recio, striker Duje Chop(transfer price - 700 thousand), Huangpi instead of Huanmi- and Malaga finished this season even higher than a year ago, in eighth place. The snobs will notice that the gap from the sixth, European Cup place was 12 points, but it can be argued that the cost of Xavi Gracia's team is not even included in the top ten, and he collected it in just one summer. And so the coach decided not to wait for the next crash test and accepted "an offer that cannot be refused."
Cause for optimism
Will working in the Premier League be a more extreme crash test? Well, first of all, we already know that Javi Gracia has a fairly diverse coaching experience, and at Malaga he showed a quality that could be useful to him in Kazan - the ability to give an acceptable result in the face of staff turnover, a constantly changing budget and tense the relationship between the club owner and the fans.
But for the Spaniard to be able to show these qualities, one more condition is required - a large number of young players. Yes, veterans played in Malaga Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Kameni and Charles- by the way, exemplary professional footballers who serve as an example for young people. But it was by working with young unknown and even non-super-talented guys that Gracia made a name for himself in Malaga. Rubin's fans, perhaps, should expect the same.
Gracia signed a four-year contract with Rubin Kazan.
(Kazan, May 27, Tatar-inform, Ildar Raimanov). Kazan "Rubin" officially presented the new head coach of the team, Javier Gracia. The Spanish specialist became the first foreign head coach in the history of the club from the capital of Tatarstan.
Javier Gracia flew to Kazan this morning, visited the club base in Sotsgorod and was presented at a special press conference at the Kazan-Arena stadium, where he was able to answer the first questions of journalists on Kazan land.
In particular, Gracia stressed that he would not like to be compared with any of the previous coaches of Rubin, but assessed him precisely by his own results achieved with the Kazan club.
“We are already looking forward to a lot of work that we will soon have to start with the team. I would like to see my team's football in an attacking style, but, of course, Rubin's play must be balanced in all lines.
I plan to learn Russian, I hope I will be able to learn it soon. I appreciate that I got to Rubin, I remember this club very well from outstanding performances in European competitions - these were glorious stages for the Kazan team, and we are faced with the task of returning Rubin to the highest places.
As for the composition of the team, then, of course, you first need to rely on those players that are in Kazan and put on a team game with them, and only then make joint decisions with the club's management about those positions that require strengthening. Today I already know all Rubin's players, though not personally yet.
I, of course, talked with Unai Emery, who led Spartak several years ago. He shared with me his experience of staying in Russia. In general, my family will come to Russia with me, which is also in anticipation of seeing Kazan. I am married and have three small children.
I would like to note that in Spain I had a valid contract with Malaga, and I came to Kazan not only because here I was offered a long-term contract on good terms, but first of all, because this is a serious challenge for me, a new step in my professional career.
Am I afraid of Russian frosts? I was born in the north of Spain, where we "run ahead of the bulls," said the new Main coach Kazan "Rubin".
The general director of Rubin Ilgiz Fakhriev emphasized, in turn, that today is a significant day in the history of the Kazan club.
“We have invited one of the leading coaches of the Spanish Football Championship. The contract is signed for a long-term period. If we talk about the financial side, then all bonuses are aimed primarily at the result, "- said the general director of Rubin.
Javier Gracia Carlos was born on May 1, 1970 in Pamplona, Spain. Former Spanish footballer, midfielder, best known for his performances for Real Sociedad and Villarreal. Gracia also played several matches for the Spanish national youth team.
In 2004, Gracia began his career as a coach in the youth team of the Villarreal club. Until 2011, he coached mainly clubs in the lower Spanish divisions. After that, Javier accepted the invitation of the Greek Olympiacos from the city of Volos. In Greece, he also coached Kerkyra, and then returned to his homeland, where he worked quite successfully in Almeria and Osasuna. In 2014, Gracia replaced Bernd Schuster as head coach of Malaga.
Javier Gracia has signed a four-year contract with Rubin Kazan, according to which he will reportedly receive 4 million euros per year. Kazan also paid Malaga a penalty of 1 million euros. Gracia plans to move to the Kazan camp together with her coaching staff.
