Josep Clotet

Early years

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia Clotet only appeared for local amateurs Igualada as a player. He became a coach while still in his 20s, starting with Cornellà then moving to Espanyol's youth teams. Clotet began the 2006–07 season with another side in his native region, Figueres, being fired after only nine matches as they eventually suffered relegation from Segunda División B. He subsequently returned to his previous club, still in charge of the youths. Clotet returned to senior football in the 2009–10 Segunda División B campaign with Espanyol's reserves. He met the same fate as in his previous experience: he was sacked following the seventh round, and the team were relegated.

Sweden and Norway

Clotet worked in Sweden for two years, starting as an assistant to Roland Nilsson at Malmö, who won the 2010 Allsvenskan title. He then joined fellow league club Halmstad as head coach, finishing 16th and last in the 2011 Allsvenskan. On 20 September 2011, Clotet joined Viking as coach in new manager Åge Hareide's backroom staff for the 2012 Norwegian Premier League season. After Hareide was sacked and Kjell Jonevret was appointed as his replacement, he left to look for a new challenge.

Atlético Malagueño

On 11 July 2012, Clotet was appointed as manager of Tercera División club Atlético Malagueño – Málaga's reserves – where he helped develop several players who would reach the first team shortly after; their progress was aided by Málaga's unstable…