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Quique Sanchez Flores: Stoke want Espanyol's ex-Watford boss to replace Hughes

By Juliette Ferrington BBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments239

Quique Sanchez Flores
Flores led Watford to 13th in the Premier League in 2015-16, his only season as their manager

Stoke City have made Quique Sanchez Flores their preferred choice for the manager's job - and are waiting for an answer from the Espanyol boss.

The Potters sacked Mark Hughes on Saturday, with the club in the Premier League relegation zone.

A Stoke delegation has met ex-Watford boss Flores, whose side beat Levante 2-0 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.

"I'm not going to talk about me on such an important day for Espanyol," he said after his side reached the last eight.

"I don't want to talk about me but to enjoy these moments. I want to continue being happy with my profession.

"I'm very grateful to Espanyol. I've been frustrated sometimes because we haven't advanced as fast as desired, but that's because Espanyol haven't been able to, not because they haven't wanted to.

"Right now we're not thinking about anything other than today's game and Sunday's match against Athletic [Bilbao]."

The 52-year-old is under contract with the La Liga side until 2019, but has a release clause in his deal.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill is still in the running if Flores turns down the chance.

Derby County boss Gary Rowett was originally one of the bookmakers' favourites to succeed Hughes, but he signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the Championship club on Tuesday.

Stoke had hoped to have their new manager in place for the Premier League game against Manchester United on 15 January - but it is thought Flores might not arrive by then.

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239 comments

  • Comment posted by glowkeeper, at 17:32 11 Jan 2018

    So it boils down to whether he want to live in Barcelona or Stoke. Tough choice!

  • Comment posted by HogriderDookes, at 17:25 11 Jan 2018

    As a Watford fan I thought he did a commendable job at Vicarage Road and conducted himself with class. I was sorry to see him go as I believe we played some good football under him.
    Whether he is the right fit for Stoke remains to be seen, but if he does go there I wish him well, except when playing the Hornets!

  • Comment posted by valjester, at 17:21 11 Jan 2018

    And Margot Robbie is my preferred choice of girlfriend.

  • Comment posted by D1679237753910, at 19:04 11 Jan 2018

    What makes me laugh about some of these derogatory comments about Stoke is the following....you could compare any UK city against Barcelona and say...Manchester or Barcelona, London or Barcelona, Liverpool or Barcelona giving the same answer. If you morons actually visited Staffordshire you would see we have gorgeous countryside...Peak District, Staffs moorlands, Roaches, Cannock Chase etc etc

  • Comment posted by The Main Event, at 17:26 11 Jan 2018

    Well he is certainly a better manager than the average Mark Hughes and he is a billion times better than the experience lacking, zero personality and untrustworthy Ryan Giggs who was laughably favourite at one point.

    Quique Sanchez Flores at Stoke is a good appointment for the club. Stoke fans should be very pleased if they get him.

  • Comment posted by Watford Dave, at 17:28 11 Jan 2018

    Did well with us and will do so for Stoke.
    Good luck to him and Stoke.

  • Comment posted by D1710548328192, at 18:00 11 Jan 2018

    @Ado1..I happen to live in Stoke and I do not particularly like it but pretentious cretins like you really annoy me. Statistically Stoke does not come bottom of any of the ergonomic barometers that are used to measure the quality of a place to live. All people like you do is criticise with no positivity or contructiveness. Who do you support then Mr Moneybags?

  • Comment posted by Captain Armorica, at 17:27 11 Jan 2018

    Good choice, thought he had a rough deal getting bumped by Watford

  • Comment posted by Lron2408, at 17:17 11 Jan 2018

    Good appointment. Stoke have some talented players that he would use well. (Shaqiri for exp)

  • Comment posted by THOMASFOX, at 17:20 11 Jan 2018

    If only he could come back to Watford. Played traditional football, with defence being key. A brilliant manager who can do well for Stoke.

  • Comment posted by TKGriffiths, at 17:15 11 Jan 2018

    Seemed like a cool guy during his time at Watford, would be nice to see him back in the PL. Did a very good job for them too.

  • Comment posted by SW1701, at 17:47 11 Jan 2018

    @32 "But can he do it on a wet, windy Tuesday night in Stoke?"

    Yes he can. Watford won 2-0 there when he was in charge

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 19:57 11 Jan 2018

    I visited Stoke while at uni, it's just your average English city from what I saw and the locals seemed pretty nice, so I don't understand all the hatred being aimed towards it on here. It's hard to find any English city that can compare to Barcelona, aside from some of the smaller ones or large towns.

    Espanyol as a club aren't much better than Stoke - that's what will decide this.

  • Comment posted by benjobd, at 20:12 11 Jan 2018

    No mangers/players live in city centres in the midlands/northwest anyway. They all live in Cheshire.....

    And if people are judging Stoke from arriving at the train station and being bused into the ground there basically not getting a true reflection of the place. I live in rural Staffordshire about 3 miles from the ground. I get to see stars and trees....unlike the big smoke 😌

  • Comment posted by SW1701, at 17:42 11 Jan 2018

    To be honest he didnt do much wrong with Watford, 13th in their first season back and had brought in some decent players

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 18:15 11 Jan 2018

    Flores led Watford to a comfortable mid table positions and to the FA Cup semis in their 1st season in the premiership and was sacked. He's enjoying success with Espanyol, lives in Barcelona and in all fairness the Spanish teams play a far high quality and brand of football than the majority of the English teams do so why would he want to come here when he has been treated so poorly in the past

  • Comment posted by cris, at 17:23 11 Jan 2018

    Interesting to see if he is keen to come to S-O-T. Hope it comes off and that after Old Trafford we move up the league with games against Huddersfield and Watford. Those will be Cup Finals for Stoke and the likes of Shaqiri must step up.

  • Comment posted by jjh87, at 18:33 11 Jan 2018

    All these foreigners, coming here and stealing our mediocre manager's jobs.

  • Comment posted by User0812997666, at 18:43 11 Jan 2018

    How about Arsenal divorcing Wenger and passing him on to Stoke... now there's a managerial marriage made in heaven. At least the fans would have something to get excited about again (ha, ha)!

    Whoever ends up coming, Stoke will survive this season... sorry to all you Stoke haters

  • Comment posted by HogriderDookes, at 17:36 11 Jan 2018

    @24

    No, not QSF, he's fluent...it was Walter who couldn't, or wouldn't speak English!

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