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JOAQUIN CAPARROS CAMINO
Date of Birth: October 13, 1955
Time at Depor: 2005 - 2007
Titles conquered: none
Clubs Trained: Deportivo (2005-2007), Sevilla (2000-2005), Villarreal (1999), Recreativo Huelva (1997-1999)
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 JOAQUIN CAPARROS was the selected choice in order to replace Javier Irureta, it was for Lendoiro's new project, the so-called 'Baby Depor', The Utrera-born trainer is very well know for his 'defensive lineups' and also for his special touch with the youngsters. This last characteristic is what called Lendoiro's attention. However, Caparrós failed. He quit two years after he arrived to Depor, apparently he was disappointed with all the problems that he found inside of Deportivo.
Caparrós was part of the young squads of Real Madrid and Sevilla, but he never succeeded as a player. He became into a government employee in Cuenca (his home province), but football was his passion and nobody was surprised when the Utrera-born man became a professional coach. Soon he had his first big chance: to direct Recreativo Huelva in Segunda B, and he did a remarkable job achieving the promotion to Segunda in his first season with the club (1997-1998).
He directed Recreativo one more year and gained a respectful 12th place in Segunda. At this point he was recognised as a serious coach that likes the discipline and the tactical order on the pitch. Several of the players that were under his orders described him as a obsess man that likes the hard work, but that also tries to motivates his players. Future Depor's players like Bodipo and Juanma were with him at that time and they always expressed good things about him.
But Caparrós decided to move to Villarreal for the season 1999-2000, at that time the Valencian club was far for been the giant that reached the Champions League's semi-finals in the season 2005/2006, Villarreal was in Segunda and president Roig was preparing a project based in the youngsters, but Caparrós never fit into this plans and he was fired after just seven games. He left Villarreal in the 13th spot. This was probably the biggest disappointment in Caparrós' career.
One year later, Sevilla's new president, Roberto Alés, took the command of the club. Sevilla suffered the relegation from Primera after a disastrous campaign and a radical change was needed. Alés planned a long-term project based in the youngsters, a situation caused by the struggling economy in the club. Surprisingly Caparrós' results were better than the expectations and Sevilla won the championship in Segunda for the season 2000/2001.
 Little by little, he started to create a serious project in the club, he spent the following four years in the building of the new Sevilla, one that combined the youngsters with veterans like Pablo Alfaro or Toedtli. Caparrós was the first one that gave an opportunity to players like José Antonio Reyes, Francisco Gallardo, Sergio Ramos or Jesús Navas. Alongside with Monchi (Sevilla's sporting director), they were know as the most dynamic couple in the Spanish football, one capable of combining this young talents with foreign diamonds like Julio Baptista or Daniel Alvés. This period marked the career of Caparrós and people started to see him as a magician capable of producing the best youngsters in Spain. He was also loved by this youngsters, Jesús Navas even said in one occasion that "if Reyes is my idol, Caparrós is my father." A demonstration of the sympathy that he awaked in the kids.
The grown in Sevilla was evident in just four years, the club passed for been a team in Segunda to a powerful squad trying to enter into European competitions in every possible occasion. He was near to achieve a Champions League spot for the season 2004/2005, but he lost the chance in the last match of the tournament, the worse thing was that his nemesis -Betis- 'stole' their place in Europe's biggest competition.
Frustrated for his luck, Caparrós decided not to negotiate a renewal with Sevilla, it was then that Deportivo's president arrived to the scene. Lendoiro knew that the successful era of Irureta was almost over, and without money to buy star players, he decided 'to build' them from zero. But Lendoiro was needing a crucial piece in the puzzle: a coach with the guts to lead his project and with enough experience with the youngsters. Caparrós was the first choice in the list of candidates, and Depor's president arranged with him a contract for one year during the summer of 2005.
Caparrós arrived to Deportivo and suddenly the young categories started to breath fresh air. Everyone was expecting to see results in some years, but the new coach gave surprises since the first day. Iván Carril was probably his first product to emerge, he took the left winger and gave him a place in the first squad during the 2005 Intertoto cup. Carril responded with a good performance and a goal during the final series.
But the revolution with Caparrós continued in the most unexpected places. He always liked to have a united team, for that reason he wanted to implement weekly dinners with the group in order to promote comradeship (at the end the players arranged to have one dinner per month). The coach also forced his men to sleep in shared rooms and not in separate ones as it happened with Irureta. But maybe the most public change was the food. He prohibited the Coca-Cola and instead, he promoted foods bases in carbohydrates. During the first days of la liga season, it was reported that the coach was ordering pizzas after the games, a way to compensate his players... and to recuperate the energies lost on the pitches.
Two methods that Caparrós likes to implement in order to motivate his men are the music and signboards. He is a confessed admirer of Bruce Springsteen and Flamenco music. It's a usual thing to hear his music in the locker room and the signboards are an indicator that an important game is arriving. As the one that he put in a wall before to the Intertoto clash against Newcastle: "The biggest teams are the ones that know how to stand up" He has even used this signboards to make fun with reporters, like when he wanted to hide the lineup that he would use in the copa series with Espanyol: "I'm sorry guys, but we are not here in order to be seen"
Caparrós is know for been an strict person, but his charisma transform him into a real character. The Sevillan coach always laugh when people reminds that he looks like the actor Michael Keaton. Caparrós also as a common thing with Irureta: both are extremely superstitious. It's well know that the new Depor's coach is an enemy of the yellow colour, the story says that during his time with Recreativo, he was near to suspend a concentration prior to a game just because the hotel had yellow doors. The employees had to remove and replace them with ones of a different colour.
 And the things in Deportivo started well for Caparrós, with only three new signings (Taborda, De Guzmán and Juanma) for the season 2005/2006, the team reached the first places in the table and the fans were delighted to see youngsters like Xisco, Senel or Iván Carril playing in the first squad. Lendoiro was very happy with him too, soon Depor's president offered a renewal of two years to the Sevillan coach (November 2005). The honeymoon was perfect... until the first problems arrived.
Important players like Valerón and Andrade get injured and the squad lost impulse. Depor fell down from Champions League positions to mid-table and the first signs of fatigue were noticed. The first conflict between Caparrós and Lendoiro appeared during the winter market in January 2006. Depor's president arranged the exit of the captain Scaloni and the coach was the last person to get noticed. Caparrós was furious and he started to think that his renewal was a mistake.
Deportivo ended 8th on the season 2005/2006 but positive things emerged from this frustrating period. Firstly, he made several and crucial chances to Fabril (Deportivo B), the young team started to train at the same hour than the first squad, and Caparrós gave the first steps in order to have professionalism inside of the young categories. The second positive thing from the campaign was the appearance of Iago Iglesias. The Galician youngster was the first player to be promoted from Fabril in years. Nobody though that this could happen, but the injury of Valerón gave the chance to the youngster and he didn't miss the opportunity.
But the real revolution arrived for the season 2006/2007. He was near to sign for Osasuna but soon he realised that biggest things can be achieved with Deportivo. Caparrós throw out to the street almost the entire squad, and he started to replace them with young promises like Arbeloa, Luis Filipe, Verdú or Barragán. The Baby Depor was born and the last vestiges of the team that surprised Europe abandoned the club (Tristán, Scaloni, Molina...) It was time for new challenges and Caparrós had the mission to build a new Deportivo, this time based in the youngsters. Would he able to do it?
 And the answer was no. Caparrós lost the control for the season 2007/2008. The squad started well after Depor reached the European places after just seven matchdays. But the Galician squad felt down and was near to the relegation zone by the end of the year 2006. The first signs of fatigue appeared in the Sevillan coach, he didn't know what to do and he started to make several changes in the lineups. Deportivo bounced back until he realised that the 4-4-2 formation was the right one for the squad, the team was able to end the season in a discreet 13th place. But the fact that erased his popularity were his declarations and his big mouth.
Deportivo reached for the second consecutive time the semi-finals in copa del rey. The rival this time was Sevilla, the love of his life. And Caparrós committed a big mistake. He appeared one day before to the first-leg game in a Sevillan paper saying that "If Depor doesn't pass this round, I will go to the final with my peńa in Utrera in order to support Sevilla." That was the cause that started the fire. The fans were furious with him, specially after Depor lost the first leg-game with a 0-3 score at the Riazor. The police even had to protect him after the match ended.
Another thing that was criticised is the poor participation of the youngsters during his last season at Depor. Players like Barragán, Filipe and Verdú were relegated to the bench, while Fabril's boys were missing in action. Only Iago, Adrián López 'Piscu' and Rubén Rivera were able to enjoy of an opportunity during the official games of the squad. However, their participation was almost inexistent and mainly anecdotal.
Tired and disappointed, Caparrós took the decision of leaving the club. Lendoiro tried to convince him of fulfilling the year he had in his contract, but at the end 'Capa' didn't change his mind. The Sevillan reached a settlement with Depor's president and he left Deportivo one week after the season 2006/2007 ended. During his good bye, the reasons that he gave were: "The job has taken its toll on me, and I think it's the best time to leave. I was responsible for the group and my biggest responsibility was to transmit hope, and I don't have the strength to do it anymore. I'm not going to see out my contract because I feel I won't be able to get the best out of the team during the next season." The 'Baby Depor' project was falling apart... At least during its first phase.
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