Joan Francesc Ferrer · Biography

Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia, known as Rubi, was born on 1 January 1970 in Vilassar de Mar, in the Maresme area north of Barcelona. His playing career began and ended in that town. He was a 1.69-metre forward who spent most of his career in the Spanish third and fourth tiers. He started coaching in 2001, and over the years he managed Girona, Sporting Gijón, SD Huesca, RCD Espanyol, Real Betis and UD Almería.

A forward in Catalan football

He made his debut for UE Vilassar de Mar in 1989 and spent three seasons with his hometown club. In 1992 he moved to AEC Manlleu, where he stayed until 1994. Spells followed at Espanyol's reserve team (1994-1995), CE L'Hospitalet (1995-1996), Pontevedra (1996-1997) and Terrassa (1997-1998). In 1998 he went back to Vilassar de Mar, and he retired there in 2001.

Learning the trade

He began coaching in 2001 at Vilassar de Mar and finished eighth in the Tercera División twice. In 2003-04 he took L'Hospitalet into the promotion play-off for Segunda B. They knocked out Mazarrón and then lost to Levante B. He was in charge of Sabadell in Segunda B until February 2005, when he was sacked with the team in the relegation zone. Later that year he took over Espanyol B. He won promotion to Segunda B with them in 2006 and stayed until March 2008. After a short spell at SD Ibiza in 2008, he joined Benidorm in June 2009. They finished sixth in Segunda B that season and scored more goals than anyone else in their group.

Girona and FC Barcelona

Rubi joined Girona in July 2011 as a scout and analyst. He then worked as assistant to Josu Uribe and Javier Salamero. In 2012-13 he got his first job as head coach in the Spanish second division. Girona finished fourth with 71 points and reached the promotion play-offs. They got past Alcorcón but lost the final to UD Almería. In June 2013 he announced he would not stay on. For the 2013-14 season he was an assistant on FC Barcelona's coaching staff. He arrived under Tito Vilanova and stayed on under Gerardo Martino after Vilanova had to step down through illness. The club let him go when the season ended.

Valladolid, Levante and Sporting

In 2014-15 he coached Real Valladolid in the second division. They finished fifth, and UD Las Palmas knocked them out in the first round of the play-offs. On 28 October 2015 he replaced Lucas Alcaraz at Levante, who were in the top flight. He took 26 points from 29 games, the team went down, and in May 2016 the club did not renew his contract. On 18 January 2017 he took over from Abelardo Fernández at Sporting Gijón, who were also relegated at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Promotion with Huesca and Espanyol

He signed for SD Huesca in June 2017. In May 2018 he won the first promotion to La Liga in the club's history. Espanyol unveiled him on 3 June 2018. He finished seventh in the 2018-19 league season and qualified for the Europa League. On 6 June 2019 he left Espanyol after his release clause was paid.

Real Betis

He joined Real Betis on that same day, 6 June 2019. He lasted one season. On 20 June 2020, after 30 rounds of La Liga and with the team 14th, the club dismissed him. Manuel Pellegrini replaced him.

Two spells at UD Almería

On 28 April 2021 he replaced José Gomes at Almería. In 2021-22 he won promotion as champion of the Spanish second division, with the title confirmed on 29 May 2022. In the 2022-23 season he kept the team up in matchweek 38, and on 4 June 2023 he announced he was leaving. He returned on 3 June 2024. In 2024-25 Almería finished sixth and Real Oviedo knocked them out in the first round of the play-offs. In 2025-26 they finished third and reached the final, but lost to Málaga: 0-0 at La Rosaleda and 1-2 in Almería on 20 June 2026. His contract was terminated on 30 June 2026.