SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (AP) — Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil will step down this summer, putting an end to a successful six-and-a-half-year stint, the Spanish club said on Thursday. Alguacil took over the San Sebastian-based club in December 2018 and helped it consistently finish in the upper part of La Liga.

Real Sociedad have appointed their reserve team coach Sergio Francisco as manager from next season to replace Imanol Alguacil who is stepping down at the end of the current campaign, the LaLiga club said on Friday.

Real Sociedad have wasted no time in replacing Imanol Alguacil, after it was announced that their long-term manager would be departing this summer upon the expiry of his contract. The 53-year-old