Ten years of Luis Sabalza at the helm of Osasuna

The president of OsasunaLuis Sabalzais celebrating ten years at the helm of the club, a period in which he went through several phases, from almost being relegated to the third category to returning to Europe after 16 years and the renovation of a stadium that is currently a jewel in red crown

Since the Navarrese team settled in the First Division in its sixth year in the top category, it is worth looking back to see what its situation was not so long ago. 3,653 days have passed since Sabalza took office in a very difficult time.

This is the 2014/2015 season. Osasuna changed coaches three times that year. It was his return to Second after 14 years at the top and it didn’t sit well. The one from Sangüesa became the twenty-third president in the club’s history, a position he continues to hold today.

In that year, with a team declining in sporting and economic aspects, the miracle was achieved. Sabadell is the place where not a simple relegation was avoided, but the loss of the club. Javier Flaño became a hero, giving strength to his president, who until then had little room for maneuver to improve the situation.

A freshman year at Second gave way to Sabalza’s first promotion. It seems too premature, seeing that the foundations of the club have not been established. The high level of competitiveness of that Primera and the squad led by three coaches (Enrique Martín, Joaquín Caparrós and Petar Vasiljevic), did not meet expectations.

Back in the Second Division, Osasuna signed Diego Martínez, who failed to fit in the stands and the team, despite his excellent work in the Sevilla reserve team. It was at the end of the championship when what was possibly the most successful decision in the club’s recent history was made.

In June 2018, the election of Jagoba Arrasate as the team’s new coach was announced. Character, identity, connection with fans and a lot of rock and roll in five great campaigns that elevated the player from Berriatúa to the rank of legend.

In between, and with Sabalza as another great face of good management, Osasuna, in addition to comfortable stays, achieved a runner-up cup championship two years ago, remaining on the brink of glory after of 2005. In the same year, the They team qualified to play in the Conference League preview, which was finally eliminated by Bruges.

One of the big moves of the 77-year-old president is the new Sadar. The infrastructure, which replaced San Juan, grew with the construction of the Preferential Grandstand in 1989, which took a new step in June 2019, after a vote of partners between the various projects.

The ‘Red Wall’, with a capacity for 23,576 spectators, was designed with a roof, equal to the height of the old one. At the end of August 2021, one of Sabalza’s dreams came true. It is a step towards the future, without leaving the essence of one of the most traditional stadiums in the Primera. The cost is 23 million.

In September of this year, during Sabalza’s opening event, the club presented the ‘Futuro Tajonar’ project where it will carry out the expansion of its sports city with an investment of 18 million euros.

Thus, Tajonar will add to the current facilities, which it also plans to modernize, the construction of a stadium, two natural grass fields, another two artificial grass fields and a two-story building where the day- daily work of the first team and the activity of the club office.

Before this, in the month of May, Osasuna made official the hiring of Vicente Moreno as a replacement for Arrasate. The time is right for a sports management that is convinced of his signature next to the presidency, despite the reluctance of part of the social mass. The team is seventh with 24 points, making El Sadar a stronghold where it has given only one defeat.

The next big question surrounding Sabalza is whether he will run for re-election after doing the same in 2017 and 2021. His commitment is without any doubts and with him the unimaginable heights reached a few years ago ago, so everything indicates that His desire is to continue.