Ex-Liverpool star Riera quits job regardless of profitable double in his first season
Liverpool cult hero Albert Riera has surprisingly give up as supervisor of Slovenian outfit NK Olimpija Ljubljana regardless of profitable a league and cup double in his first season. The former winger’s facet gained the Prva Liga for the primary time since 2017/18 however that was not sufficient to persuade their head coach to stay.
Riera’s first press convention was reportedly disrupted by offended followers protesting in opposition to the possession of the membership. However, the Spaniard remained in cost and loved nice success, clinching the Slovenian top-flight on the finish of April.
Olimpia then defeated Maribor to win the Slovenian Cup on May 6, profitable a dramatic remaining in opposition to 9 males due to a penalty 10 minutes into added time in additional time. But Riera has since determined to give up, posting a farewell message on his Instagram web page.
“Thanks @nkolimpija for this opportunity. I couldn’t ask for more, first year as head coach and [we] win league and cup. Champions of both cups in Slovenia,” Riera stated.
“I gave all my knowledge, energy, passion and professionality until the last day. Special thanks to the players, you are the main [characters] of this history. I still remember my first day, first speech, my promise was only one, to improve all of you and I leave feeling proud. Don’t forget to smile and enjoy.
“And to the fans, without you the football has not sensed your support and power. Always I would say that my history started here, with the dragons, and from now on you have a fan and supporter for the rest of our lives.
“Wishing you all the best and [a] bright future. Now it’s time for me to find another motivation and adventure.”
In a transparent trace that his resolution was based mostly on inside politics, Riera instructed native Slovenian media that he wouldn’t permit anybody to ‘interfere’ together with his teaching. He supposedly instructed Sport Klub: “I know what I can control as a coach. These are my players. This worked for me all year. I did not allow anyone to interfere in my decisions.
“Anyone who knows me knows that that’s just how I work, I’m the one who makes the decisions, but it seems like it was my mistake. In Slovenia, winning [trophies] is obviously a bad thing and you are no longer a coach.”
Riera scored 5 targets in 56 appearances for Liverpool between 2008 and 2010. He additionally hung out on mortgage at Manchester City and, later in his profession, loved a short-lived spell within the Championship with Watford.