Manel Expósito will have a position of maximum responsibility during the next European Championship. The Barcelona native, who has spent the last eight years of his life linked to AS Eupen -first as a player and then as an assistant to Jordi Condom, Claude Makélélé and Beñat San José-, was recruited by the team of Roberto Martinez and will be in charge of analyzing the rivals of the Belgian team during the great international event. Exposito, who was trained in the FC Barcelona quarry and lived a fruitful adventure in New Zealand before hanging up his boots in 2015, will be part of a team, that of the 'red devils', which already has other Spaniards like himself 'Bob' Martínez, the goalkeeper coach Iñaki Bergara or the analyst Jesús Seba, with whom he will work closely.
Many will remember November 16, 2003 because it was the day that Leo Messi he played his first game with the first team of FC Barcelona. In that friendly against Mourinho's Oporto, Manel Expósito was also the protagonist, who jumped onto the field in the 15th minute replacing the injured Luis García. “I remember that the grass was very bad. Secretary made a tremendous tackle and when I looked up I saw Luis Enrique, Xavi or Rafa Márquez protesting to the referee. I thought: 'How good! My idols are defending me'”, recalls Expósito, who did not have a long journey with Barça, but he does know what it is to win a Champions League. In fact, he raised three Champions League in Oceania with Auckland City, which gave him the opportunity to participate in two World Cups Club: “Going to New Zealand is the best decision I have made in my life.”
After returning from Oceania, Manel Expósito played for AS Eupen for two years, which at that time was playing in the Second Division but had already been acquired by Aspire. After hanging up his boots in 2015, the Spaniard stepped onto the bench and, as Jordi Condom's assistant, played a key role in the 'pandas' ascent to the Jupiler Pro League. Eupen is the smallest city with a team in the highest category of Belgian football, but that did not prevent it from putting together a solid project that already has five consecutive seasons in the elite.
Manel Expósito made his debut with the FC Barcelona first team and later raised, among other things, three Champions League titles, an Oceania Golden Boot or a New Zealand Premier League, although it is now that he faces one of the greatest challenges of his career. He will analyze the rivals of the Belgian team, leader of the FIFA ranking for more than three years. Another Spaniard who will seek glory in the Euro.