The Andalusian club, competing in the Second Division with promotion aspirations, made the decision after narrowly missing out on promotion this season. García Pimienta, 51, will now lead the planning for the 2026-27 campaign with the ambitious project of returning to the First Division.
The signing of García Pimienta, who has a long history in FC Barcelona's youth academy, represents a commitment to a playing style focused on possession, ball control, and an offensive, combinative game.
The Barcelona-born coach spent much of his career in FC Barcelona's lower categories, successfully managing the reserve team and nurturing future stars like Messi, Piqué, and Cesc Fábregas. He later led UD Las Palmas to promotion to the First Division in the 2022-23 season and kept them in the top flight.
After his tenure at Las Palmas, García Pimienta joined Sevilla for the 2024-25 season but was dismissed during Easter week of 2025. UD Almería emphasizes its intention to build a team that meets the new coach's demands and competes for promotion from the start of the championship.
The club highlights García Pimienta's experience in "growth projects" and his ability to "develop players." The Almería fanbase hopes his football philosophy will make the team a strong contender for promotion to Spain's top football league.
With Rubi's departure, the coach with the most appearances in UD Almería's recent history (187) leaves. During his tenure, he achieved promotion to the First Division, won the Second Division title, and made two further attempts to return the team to the elite.
