Albert Riera’s repute as a supervisor blossomed additional this week as his new facet, NK Celje, pulled off a dramatic European comeback.
After a nomadic profession that took in spells in seven completely different international locations and by no means greater than three years at any membership, Riera is making his mark as a supervisor.
Although a former Spain worldwide who labored underneath Rafa Benitez, his pathway off the sphere has been much less illuminated than the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso.
Two spells as assistant at Galatasaray then led Riera again to Slovenia, the place he ended his taking part in profession – first in cost at Olimpija Ljubljana and now Celje.
A tumultuous exit from Olimpija – after profitable the double, no much less – did little to halt his momentum, and now he’s main Celje into Europe.
On Thursday, the PrvaLiga membership produced an unlikely comeback to knock Vitoria de Guimaraes out of the Europa Convention League on the second qualifying spherical.
Vitoria went into the two-legged tie 252 locations above Celje in UEFA’s rankings, and the primary leg resulted in a 4-3 win for the Portuguese facet.
The chances have been stacked in opposition to Celje regardless of scoring three at house, having solely gained 3 times on the highway in Europe of their historical past.
However a second-half strike from Gregor Bajde levelled the tie on mixture and ultimately earned a penalty shootout – which Celje gained 4-2.
“What an achievement boys!” Riera wrote on Twitter after the triumph.
“HOW you may have performed makes me imagine in you. Don’t cease bettering, the very best is but to return.”
What an achievement boys! ?
To the subsequent spherical of Convention League vs sixth crew in Portugal Vitoria Guimaraes.
The way in which HOW you may have performed makes me imagine in you ??
Don’t cease bettering, the very best is but to return ??
Get pleasure from tonight solely ? Tomorrow once more prepared ?@NKCelje pic.twitter.com/GuxNKlUzAT— Albert Riera (@11RIERA11) August 3, 2023
The 41-year-old gained admirers for his work at Olimpija as he employed a progressive, free-flowing model of play, which he has now translated to Celje.
It enhances his repute as a younger supervisor which, if his success continues, will little question entice curiosity from elsewhere in Europe.
Subsequent up in Celje’s bid to qualify for the Europa Convention League is a two-legged conflict with Belarusian outfit FC Neman Grodno on August 10 and 17.
In the event that they win that, they’ll then face both Bodo/Glimt or FC Pyunik within the playoff spherical, to find out a spot within the group stage.
