Clemente ready for Espanyol role

The former Spain coach Javier Clemente is to replace Ramón Moya at the helm of Primera División strugglers RCD Espanyol.

Third coach
The 52-year-old, who was in charge of the Spanish national team between 1992 and 1998, was meeting Espanyol president Daniel Sanchez Libre in Barcelona tonight to put the finishing touches to a contract which will see him become the club's third coach this season.

Moya staying on
Only last month, Moya signed a contract extension to run until June 2004 after impressing in a short spell as first-team coach following the sacking of Juande Ramos. Moya will remain at the Olímpico as an assistant to Clemente, who has been out of work since the end of last season when he completed a short-term contract at CD Tenerife.

Consecutive titles
Clemente, who made his name when he led Athletic Club Bilbao to consecutive league titles in 1983 and 1984, will take charge at the Barcelona-based club for the third time in his career. He was in charge at Espanyol between 1986 and 1989, steering the club to third place in the league in 1987 and to the final of the UEFA Cup the following season.

Shock defeat
He then had brief spells at Club Atlético de Madrid and Athletic before returning to Espanyol for the 1991/92 season and helping them avoid relegation. A six-year stint in charge of the national side followed, which ended when he stepped down in September 1998 after a shock 3-2 defeat by Cyprus in a UEFA European Championship qualifier.

Tenerife relegated
Since relinquishing the Spain post, Clemente has had brief spells in charge of Real Betis Balompié, Real Sociedad and French side Olympique de Marseille. He took over at struggling Tenerife last February, but was unable to save the islanders from relegation before finishing his contract at the end of the season.

Valladolid next
His new team Espanyol are in 19th place in the 20-team Spanish top flight with ten points from 14 games. They are at home against Real Valladolid in their next league match on Sunday.