The club from Seville has taken a firm step in shaping its sporting project for the 2026-27 campaign with the appointment of José Ignacio Navarro, a 44-year-old from Seville, as the head of sporting direction. Navarro, who until now served as deputy director of football, takes on the role following the departure of Antonio Cordón, whose right-hand man he was.

A graduate in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences with a UEFA Pro license, Navarro returns to Sevilla after a first spell of nine years (2005-2014). He later developed his career alongside Antonio Cordón at Villarreal CF as head of scouting and at Holding Hope Group, owner of clubs like Granada and Parma, where the teams achieved promotions and European qualifications.

His career also includes a period in the technical secretariat of Real Betis (2020-2023), where the green-and-white team won the Copa del Rey. Before returning to Nervión, he served as deputy sporting director for Olympiacos, with whom he won the 2023-24 Conference League. His official presentation is expected this Friday, likely with the appearance of president Del Nido Carrasco.

In parallel, the club has ratified the continuity of Luis García Plaza as head coach of the first team for the 2026-27 season. The Madrid-born coach, whose future was uncertain, has seen his objective of extending his contract fulfilled, which is automatically renewed after securing permanence in the league.

Despite interest from other clubs such as Osasuna, García Plaza has prioritized his stay at Sevilla to lead a project from its inception. He is currently working in coordination with José Ignacio Navarro on squad planning, defining player departures, arrivals, and the profile of the team for the upcoming season.