Lucas Alcaraz
Born in Granada, Andalusia, Alcaraz started coaching with Granada CF in 1995 at the age of 29, achieving two top-four finishes in the third division in his three-year spell but failing to promote in the playoffs. In the following two seasons he managed in the same tier and region, with Almería CF and Dos Hermanas CF, suffering relegation with the former. In June 2000, 34-year-old Alcaraz signed for Recreativo de Huelva, helping the oldest club in Spain return to La Liga after an absence of 23 years in 2002 behind champions Atlético Madrid and Racing de Santander. Even though "Recre" returned to the second level immediately, they also managed to reach the final of the Copa del Rey, losing 0–3 to RCD Mallorca. Alcaraz then moved to Racing Santander, being sacked midway through the 2004–05 campaign due to bad results. He spent the following two seasons in the second division, helping Real Murcia promote in 2007 but being immediately relegated afterwards – he was fired on 6 March 2008 – and meeting the same fate with his following club, Recreativo. In the summer of 2009, Alcaraz signed with another team in his native Andalusia, Córdoba CF (second level), helping the side finish tenth in his first season. In late June 2011, he re-joined Almería – now called "Unión Deportiva" – recently relegated from the top flight. On 3 April 2012, after only four points in six games and no wins, Alcaraz was relieved of his duties. On 30 January of the following year, after a very short spell in Greece with Aris Thessaloniki FC, he returned to his country and Granada, with the club now in the top tier. Alcaraz was appointed at Levante UD on 21 October 2014, replacing fired José Luis Mendilibar after just eight rounds. On 25 October of the following year, following a 0–4 home defeat to Real Sociedad, he was sacked. On 11 June 2016, Alcaraz was announced as the new Elche CF manager, only to refuse the job six days later. On 3 October, he began his third spell at Granada. As the team stood second from the bottom in the table, Alcaraz was relieved of his duties on 10 April 2017. Three days later, he was appointed at the helm of the Algeria national side, but was fired in October after failing to qualify to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, receiving a €345,000 payout. Alcaraz returned to Almería on 16 November 2017, replacing Luis Miguel Ramis. He resigned the following 24 April, after an eight-match winless run. On 22 October 2018, Alcaraz was appointed Real Zaragoza manager in the place of sacked Imanol Idiakez. On 17 December, he was himself dismissed. Alcaraz was named manager of Albacete Balompié on 3 February 2020, still in the second division, He was relieved of his duties on 13 October, just five matches into the new season. Alcaraz was named manager of Cypriot top division side Olympiakos Nicosia on 29 December 2021,
bringing with him as assistant manager his compatriot Jesus Canadas Morcillo. From local reports the target is to maintain the historic club, in the top 6 of the league and match the cup final achieved last season, with the ultimate aim of European qualification. However, when he took the helm the club was in 8th place 4 points off target and the aims are not easy to achieve. Alcaraz's father, Felipe, was a politician and a writer, being a longtime secretary-general of the Communist Party of Andalusia. His grandfather was Manuel González, and his namesake his uncle.
Football career
In a managerial career of over two decades, he competed in ten La Liga seasons at the helm of Recreativo, Racing de Santander, Granada and Levante. He was also in charge of five clubs in Segunda División, winning promotion with Recreativo and Murcia, and had a brief spell in international selection with Algeria.