体坛英语新闻：Surprise at Real Sociedad as Jagobo Arrasate named as new coach

MADRID, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Spanish BBVA Primera Liga club Real Sociedad named Jagobo Arrasate as the surprise replacement for Philippe Montainer as first team coach at the club.

It is a big step up for the 34-year-old who has spent the past two seasons as assistant to Montanier, who announced before the end of the season that he was leaving in order to return to France after two years coaching in San Sebastian.

Real Sociedad President, Jokin Aperribay confirmed that Arrasate had always been a candidate after Montanier had said he would not continue and added that has soon as Newel's Old Boys coach, Tata Martino had rejected the chance to join the club, he was the only candidate.

Arrasate's appointment as coach comes after a morning filled with rumors that former Bordeaux and French national team coach, Laurent Blanc was on the point of being named as Real Sociedad's new coach with the national radio station Cadena Cope, going as far as confirming the Friday's press conference was to confirm Blanc's appointment.

"We want to continue with the sporting projection that we have marked out and this was the moment for Arrasate to take on the responsibility," said Aperribay of the new coach.

"It is the way we can assure we continue the strategy we have been following for years," continued the President.

Although he is little known outside of his club, there is logic in the decision given that Real Sociedad has placed a huge emphasis in their youth system in recent seasons, finishing fourth in the Primera Liga with a side that in players such as Asier Illaramendi, Mikel Gonzalez, Inaki Bergara and Ruben Pardo to name but four, who have progressed through the ranks.

Before working as Montanier's assistant, Arrasate worked in the Real Sociedad youth system and knows both it and the club's young players well, meaning he is certain to continue with the policy of promoting from inside the club.

Nevertheless, he will have a tough task of replacing Montanier, especially given that among his first competitive matches in charge are is the qualifying round for the group stage of the Champions League and the pressure will be on to get through and assure an important European payday for a club that not so long ago was in the hands of the administrators.

Elsewhere in Spain, Joaquin Caparros is favorite to take over as Levante coach replacing Jose Ignacio Martinez, after the club decided against offering Martinez a new contract.

However, it doesn't look as if Martinez will be out of work for long as he is the favorite to replace Miroslav Djukic, the new Valencia coach, at Djukic's former club, Valladolid.