Madrid - Spanish Liga club Espanyol announced on Monday night that their new coach would be former Alaves coach Mane. Mane, whose full name is Jose Manuel Esnal, takes over from Bartolome Marquez, who was sacked on Sunday night with Espanyol fourth from bottom in La Liga.
Mane, 58, made a name for himself by establishing modest Alaves in the top flight at the end of the 1990s - and by taking them all the way to the UEFA Cup final in 2001.
He has been out of contract since saving Athletic Bilbao from relegation two years ago.
"I am very happy and looking forward to starting," Mane told radio station Onda FM on Monday night.
"Espanyol is a historic club," he added. "I understand that it is a bad situation...but I think that results can be improved."
