Lucas Alcaraz

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Born in Granada, Andalusia, Alcaraz started coaching with AD Adra in 1994 at the age of 28,^[1] and subsequently achieved two top-four finishes in the Segunda División B in his three-year spell at Granada CF, but failing to promote in the playoffs.^[2] In the following two seasons he managed in the same tier and region, with Almería CF and Dos Hermanas CF, suffering relegation with the former.^[3][4]

In June 2000, the 34-year-old Alcaraz signed for Recreativo de Huelva,^[5] helping the oldest club in Spain return to La Liga after an absence of 23 years in 2002 behind champions Atlético Madrid and Racing de Santander.^[6] Even though Recre returned to the second division immediately, they also managed to reach the final of the Copa del Rey, losing 3–0 to RCD Mallorca.^[7]

Alcaraz then moved to Racing Santander, being sacked midway through the 2004–05 campaign due to bad results.^[8] He spent the following two seasons in the Segunda División, helping Real Murcia CF to promote in 2007^[9] but being immediately relegated afterwards – he was fired on 6 March 2008 –^[10] and meeting the same fate with his following club, Recreativo.^[11]

In the summer of 2009, Alcaraz signed with another team in his native Andalusia, Córdoba CF (division two),^[12] helping the side finish tenth in his first season. In late June 2011, he re-joined Almería – now called Unión Deportiva – recently relegated from the top flight.^[13]

On 3 April 2012, after only four points in six games and no wins, Alcaraz was relieved of his duties.^[14] On 30 January of the following year, after a very short spell in Greece with Aris Thessaloniki FC,^[15] he returned to his country and Granada, with the club now in the top tier.^[16]

Alcaraz was appointed at Levante UD on 21 October 2014, replacing fired José Luis Mendilibar after just eight rounds.^[17] One year and four days later, following a 0–4 home defeat to Real Sociedad, he was sacked.^[18]

On 11 June 2016, Alcaraz was announced as the new Elche CF manager,^[19] only to refuse the job six days later.^[20] On 3 October, he began his third spell at Granada.^[21]

As the team stood second-bottom in the table, Alcaraz was relieved of his duties on 10 April 2017.^[22] Three days later, he was appointed at the helm of the Algeria national side,^[23] but was fired in October after failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, receiving a €345,000 payout.^[24]

Alcaraz returned to Almería on 16 November 2017, replacing Luis Miguel Ramis.^[25] He resigned on 24 April 2018, after an eight-match winless run.^[26]

On 22 October 2018, Alcaraz was appointed Real Zaragoza manager in place of the sacked Imanol Idiakez.^[27] On 17 December, he was himself dismissed.^[28]

Alcaraz was named manager of Albacete Balompié on 3 February 2020, still in the second division,^[29] He was relieved of his duties on 13 October, just five matches into the new season.^[30]

On 29 December 2021, Alcaraz moved to Cyprus with Olympiakos Nicosia, but left after collecting no wins in eight games.^[31] In November 2022, he became UD Ibiza's third manager of the second-tier campaign.^[32]

On 6 June 2023, after the relegation of the Balearic Islands side, Alcaraz left.^[33] On 24 December, he signed for F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran in the Persian Gulf Pro League,^[34] leaving his post the following February.^[35]

Alcaraz's father, Felipe, was a politician and a writer, being a longtime secretary-general of the Communist Party of Andalusia.^[36][37][38] His grandfather was Manuel González, and his namesake his uncle.^[39]

As of match played 21 February 2024