Equisoian leaving Portland bench after sixteen years

Francisco Javier “Zupo” Equisoain will not be the coach of Portland next season. After a very successful career at the club, Equisoain resigns but does not leave the club.

The coach will continue as Sports Director and will have an influence of the team in the upcoming seasons. “Zupo” has a contract with Portland until June 2009; it was last renewed in 2006.

Equisoain won a Champions League title, two Asobal Leagues and two European Cup Winners’ Cups. He seized eleven titles with the team that makes Equisoian the most successful Spanish coach. He worked exclusively for San Antonio, except for one season in Cuenca.

Equisoain signs stars

He was decisive in creating the successful teams of Portland signing players such as Richardson, Iakimovic, Garralda, Balic and others who contributed a lot to Portland’s past and present.

The Spanish coach will say goodbye to the fans next Saturday when Portland will close the season against Bidasoa in Pamplona. Portland could not win titles in the last two seasons, and it generated the anger in some of the supporters in Pamplona.

However, the last two seasons were not really bad for Portland. The team was in the final and in the semi-final of the last two editions of Champions League and they were also close to win the Asobal League loosing only two games per season.

Portland must look for another coach, which is a very difficult task as top coaches already have contracts for the next season.