La Llagosta's Antonio García to coach Sevilla

Antonio García is set to leave Fraikin BM Granollers and become head coach of newly promoted Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin, according to reports published on May 14 and statements from Granollers confirming his departure. BM Granollers said García, the club's current assistant coach, will not remain on the first-team bench for the 2026-27 season. Diario de Sevilla reported the former Spain international will take charge of Sevilla as the club prepares for its first season in Liga ASOBAL. The move would send one of Spanish handball's best-known recent left backs into his first senior head-coaching job one year after retirement. Antonio García, born in La Llagosta in 1984, ended his playing career last season and then moved directly onto Granollers' staff. Granollers said he worked this season as assistant coach, coordinator of the men's senior teams and head of the Vallbona project. (bmgranollers.cat) ### Why is García leaving Granollers now? BM Granollers announced on May 14 that García "will not continue" with the first team next season. The club said the change comes after a year in which he shifted from player to coach inside the organization where he had spent much of his career. Granollers also published García's farewell remarks, in which he called the year "a very beautiful and motivating experience" and said he was proud to have defended "the club of my life." (bmgranollers.cat) The Catalan club did not name his next destination in its statement. Diario de Sevilla, however, reported later the same day that Sevilla had chosen García to lead its ASOBAL debut. That sequence left Granollers confirming the exit while local reporting in Seville identified the next post. ### What makes Sevilla's opening especially notable? Cajasol Sevilla BM Proin secured sporting promotion to Liga NEXUS ENERGÍA ASOBAL on May 2 after beating Balonmano Alcobendas and clinching the División de Honor Plata title, the league said. (bmgranollers.cat) ASOBAL said Sevilla reached the top flight for the first time in men's club handball and did so with one round still left in the regular season. The league listed a 23-win, one-draw, five-loss record for the promotion campaign. ASOBAL also said Sevilla's place in the top division next season remains subject to meeting the requirements for professional clubs and later ratification by the assembly. That means García's expected arrival comes as the club completes the administrative steps tied to promotion as well as the sporting ones. ### Why did Sevilla turn to García for this job? (asobal.es) Diario de Sevilla said Sevilla wanted a coach with top-level stature for its first season in ASOBAL and identified García as the choice. The newspaper said his relationship with sporting director Juan Andreu was a factor: the two were teammates at Granollers from 2003 to 2010 and again at Ademar León in 2011-12. It also reported García has been a member of the Sevilla club since its foundation. (asobal.es) The same report said García arrives after a year learning under Granollers head coach Antonio Rama. That gives Sevilla a coach whose first season on the bench came inside one of Spain's established handball programs before he moves into a promoted side's first year in the elite division. ### What happens to the coach who won promotion? (diariodesevilla.es) Víctor Montesinos will not remain as Sevilla's first-team coach despite leading the club's rise over the last four seasons, Diario de Sevilla reported. The newspaper said the 38-year-old will stay with the organization as the senior figure in charge of youth development and training young players. (diariodesevilla.es) ASOBAL's promotion notice had credited Montesinos' team with sealing direct promotion, making the coaching change one of the first major decisions of Sevilla's transition into the top flight. The club has not yet, in the sources reviewed, published a separate official announcement naming García. ### What comes next for García and Sevilla? (diariodesevilla.es) The 2026-27 season is the next milestone for both men and club. Sevilla still needs final ratification of its ASOBAL place under league requirements, ASOBAL said, and Diario de Sevilla reported the roster will undergo multiple changes before the top-flight debut. García is expected to be announced in the coming days as the coach of that new project. (asobal.es)