Julián Rubio

The former Sevilla player took over as first team coach after the departure of Carlos Salvador Bilardo, with barely a third of the league championship still to play. Under his guidance, the team began to show signs of improvement that gave some hope of salvation, but the heavy burden inherited would make it impossible to make the longed-for comeback in the standings, dooming the club to a tragic relegation at the Carlos Tartiere stadium in Oviedo.

Back in the Second Division, Julián Rubio would begin the 1997/98 season at the helm, but after a promising start, a series of unfavourable results that took the team out of the promotion and promotion places to the top flight, would lead to the dismissal of the Albacete coach, who would be replaced by Vicente Miera.