Osasuna have dismissed Luis Miguel Ramis after only eight league games and brought Jagoba Arrasate back on a contract running until 30 June 2029. The move came within hours of the 5-2 defeat at Real Betis, a result that left Osasuna 16th with 8 points. Reporting around the change also placed them three points above relegation, which gives the decision its urgency even if the table wording varies slightly by source.
The club said the call was approved at a board meeting. In comments translated from Spanish and quoted by Estadio Deportivo, Osasuna said: "The decision was taken this morning in a board meeting in which the sporting management's view was ratified. The members of his work team José Manuel Gil, Iván Madroño, Miguel Ángel Fernández and José Fajardo will also end their time at the club."
The speed of the reset
Ramis' spell was short and the numbers around it were poor enough to make a quick change unsurprising. Osasuna had taken 8 points from 8 league matches and their recent league run was one draw and four defeats in five. They had also conceded 18 goals and scored 8.
The 5-2 loss at Betis will dominate the reaction because it was the final game, but it was not an isolated bad afternoon. Osasuna's start had left them hovering near the bottom, and the phrase "three points above relegation" captures the same concern as 16th place rather neatly.
That context matters more than trying to pin everything on one result. The defeat in Seville looked like the breaking point, yet the broader issue was a side collecting too few points and giving away too many goals early in the season.
Arrasate's return and what Osasuna are buying
Osasuna did not go for a placeholder. They went back to a coach who already knows the club and has a substantial record there. In comments translated from Spanish and quoted by Estadio Deportivo, the club said: "Club Atlético Osasuna has reached an agreement with Jagoba Arrasate for him to be its coach until 30 June 2029. The second coach with the most matches managed in the club's history returns to the rojillo entity to sign a deal for the remainder of the season and two more seasons. In his second spell at the helm of the rojillo team he will again count on Bittor Alkiza as second coach. Details about the work team that will accompany him in this new project will be offered soon".
That previous spell is why this feels like a reset rather than a leap in the dark. Arrasate managed Osasuna in 256 matches, led them to promotion to Primera División and the second division title, then oversaw five seasons of survival. He also took the club to the runners-up spot in the 2022-23 Copa del Rey, into the UEFA Conference League and into the Spanish Super Cup for the first time.
There is a separate detail around his exit from Mallorca, with some reporting calling it last season in February and others putting it as February 2026. That discrepancy does not change the bigger point for Osasuna, who have chosen a known figure on a long deal rather than a short-term firefighter.
What changes now
The immediate shift is on the bench, but the harder part is on the pitch. Osasuna need results quickly after taking 8 points from 8 matches and slipping into a run of four defeats in five league games.
Arrasate returns with credit in the bank, which is rare for a manager walking into a struggling side in October. Osasuna have tied that return to a contract until 30 June 2029, so this is a restart with long-term intent as well as a reaction to the 5-2 loss at Real Betis.
FAQ
Why did Osasuna sack Luis Miguel Ramis so early in the season?
Osasuna made the change after only eight league rounds. The backdrop was a 5-2 defeat at Real Betis, a return of 8 points from 8 matches, a place in 16th and a run of one draw and four defeats in the last five league games. The club statement confirmed the decision was ratified at a board meeting.
Why have Osasuna brought Jagoba Arrasate back?
Arrasate is a familiar figure at Osasuna rather than an unknown fix. The club announced him on a deal until 30 June 2029. In his previous spell he managed Osasuna in 256 matches, led them to promotion and the second division title, and also took them to a Copa del Rey final, into the UEFA Conference League and into the Spanish Super Cup for the first time.
Are Osasuna in the relegation fight after sacking Ramis?
The current numbers point to concern, but not certainty. Osasuna were 16th with 8 points after eight matches, and the reporting around the dismissal also described them as three points above relegation after the loss at Real Betis. That explains the urgency, even if it is too early to call them certain relegation candidates.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
