Sporting Gijon’s gaffer who just resigned, Abelardo Fernandez, conveniently has this one on his neck for his amazing gesture of about a week ago.
Mr Fernandez did reject a Euros4m (US$4.2m) compensation pay-out after quitting his role at the struggling La Liga.
The 46-year-old resigned as head coach with the team 18th in the top division, having lost seven of their last eight games.
A native of Gijon, Abelardo spent five years at the club as a player, and took over as coach in 2014.
Afterwards, he said this at a news conference: “I cry for these people, for this club and for the fans, who I love so much.
“As a Sporting fan, even though I had a contract until 2020, I couldn’t do that to the club I love. I did the same at other clubs and it wasn’t going to be any different here. I don’t have a problem writing off the money. There are more important things, loyalty to my club above all,” Abelardo said, referring to the decision to write-off the compensation.
The gesture, which may surprise some given the frivolous climate of modern football, was met with broad approval on social media.
Gijon have now gone ahead to appoint Mr Joan Francesc Ferrer, also known as “Rubi,” as their new head coach, it is understood.
Awww! This is so phenomenal! Vintage loyalty of an individual to a club-side at a time in modern soccer when players, coaches and so on worship money, lay excessive emphasis on that ‘paper’ and less on the game itself. Mr Fernandez has just done his dignity, self-esteem and image a whole lot of good. He is indeed a model to the rest of the coaches in world football on the strength of this; a gentleman extraordinaire. Interestingly, it’s an admirable tradition/habit he just maintained.
A huge THUMBS UP to the amazing Mr Fernandez 😉 😀
The Chima Amechi Blog 
Good man, you ar blessed
LikeLike