January 18 – Money can’t buy you love, sang the Beatles, but turning it down might do just that. Yaya Toure will have endeared himself even more to Manchester City fans for turning down a reported $430,000 a week salary offer from China. Sporting Gijon coach Abelardo Fernandez has taken gone a step further.
Fernandez quit his job as Sporting Gijon head coach after a run of losing seven out of the club’s last eight games. He has reportedly refused a €4 million pay off – presumably because he chose to walk rather than be sacked and take the compensation.
“I don’t have a problem writing off the money, “said Fernandez. “There are more important things – loyalty to my club above all.”
A native of Gijon, Fernandez ’s playing career spanned Spain and Barcelona as a defender, before he entered management and now, presumably, iconic status at Gijon. In his first season at Gijon in 2014/15 he won promotion to La Liga. The club now lie in 18th position.
Fernandez will be replaced by former Girona, Valladolid and Levante coach Rubi.
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