Sergio Almenara joins F.C. Copenhagen as assistant coach
F.C. Copenhagen can confirm the appointment of Sergio Almenara as a new assistant coach.
The Spanish coach joins Jacob Neestrup's set-up, having previously worked in Spain, Finland, and South Africa.
Smith-Nielsen: International input and expertise
FCK sports director Sune Smith-Nielsen said of Sergio's appointment: "Leading up to and following Jens Berthel Askou’s departure, we have worked purposefully to find the right figure for our coaching team. Therefore, we are pleased to bring Sergio into the team with a special focus on set-pieces.
"At the same time, it is a priority for us to complement our strong existing staff with new international perspectives.
"As we also see a trend in developing a more international environment, it is also an advantage that Sergio is Spanish and can communicate in Spanish. This aligns well with our ambitions of having a squad that is and will continue to become more international, with a foundation and core of Scandinavian players.
"It’s also about finding the right balance – combining skilled coaches with deep knowledge of F.C. Copenhagen alongside fresh input from outside that can further develop us."
Almenara is currently part of the Finnish national team, where he is responsible for set-pieces – a role he will continue to carry out.
Neestrup: Strong references
FCK head coach Jacob Neestrup is pleased with the addition, and said: "We have received very strong references about Sergio. He is analytically strong, highly skilled, and dedicated to set-pieces. He already holds that responsibility with the Finnish national team and also brings experience from several different football cultures.
"We’ve had some very good conversations, and we are confident that he will bring both quality and perspective to our team."
Almenara joins with immediate effect and will focus particularly on set-pieces, analysis, and specific individual development in collaboration with the rest of the coaching staff.
Sergio: Exciting and great opportunity
The 45-year-old has worked for several years in Finland, both as a head coach, assistant coach, and scout, and has spent two years in South Africa with Orlando Pirates, and before that with Levante in Spain.
"I’m looking forward to becoming a part of F.C. Copenhagen and contributing to the continued development following the great end to last season. I’m excited to bring my skills into play both within the team and with the players on the pitch," says Almenara.