Espanyol have sacked head coach Manolo González, hours after a 4-3 extra-time defeat to fourth-tier Sestao River knocked them out of the Copa del Rey in the first round on Tuesday.

Sestao struck twice in extra time, with Jon Rojo scoring the winner in the 121st minute to complete one of the great shocks in the competition's recent history. González, 47, had admitted before the match that his future was at stake, and the defeat proved to be the final straw. No replacement has been named yet, and Espanyol face Villarreal on Friday with the club 18th in La Liga on eight points.

Speaking to reporters after the defeat, González took full responsibility for the result. "(I'm) feeling really down, completely shattered, and bearing the full weight of responsibility for everything," he said. "It's one of the worst days of my life, without a doubt." In a statement, the club said: "RCD Espanyol have decided to bring Manolo González's tenure as coach of the club to an end." The statement added: "RCD Espanyol, on behalf of club president Alan Pace, and its Board of Directors, wish to express our gratitude to Manolo Gonzalez for the work, commitment, and effort he has shown since taking charge of the first team."

González took charge of Espanyol in March 2024 after being promoted from the reserve side, and guided the club back to La Liga at the end of that season before keeping the Catalan club in the top flight over the following two seasons. He leaves after more than three seasons and 107 competitive matches in charge of the first team. But his position had come under increasing scrutiny after a difficult second half of last season, when Espanyol endured an 18-match winless run spanning 143 days, and Spanish media had reported ahead of Tuesday's cup tie that his job was under threat.

Espanyol have struggled for form in 2026, losing five of González's final six games in charge, and they have lost six of their first 10 league matches this season. They won two of their opening five league matches this season but have since gone five games without a victory, a run that includes last weekend's 2-1 defeat away to Racing Santander. The new coach will inherit a side in the relegation zone, with Villarreal to come on Friday and no successor named yet.