As David Moyes attempts to exorcise his Manchester United demons at relegation-threatened La Liga club Real Sociedad, the incomplete reign of Chris Coleman is unavoidable for the ex-United manager.
"Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay and Moyes have been in negotiations for 10 days about the position," per Guillem Balague at Bleacher Report. "Moyes was the first choice from the outset, and he's got the job."
Seven years earlier, Sociedad gave another fired British manager a chance to redeem his reputation.
Languishing in the Segunda Division (the Spanish equivalent of the Championship), Sociedad hired Coleman, four months after he had been sacked from Fulham.
"He [Coleman] brings freshness and new ideas," then Sociedad president Maria De La Pena said, per BBC Sport. "The main aim will clearly be to return to the Primera Liga."
Following in the footsteps of Welsh compatriot John Toshack, Coleman embraced the cultural challenge of coaching Sociedad.
Looking back in hindsight, Coleman's tentative first impression at Sociedad foretold how his spell would end.
Sociedad management squeezed in three pre-season games in four days "which wasn't ideal," according to Coleman.
He had been signed to work with less.
Sociedad's most expensive purchase that season was 17-year-old Spanish left-back Alberto Morgado from Alaves for €700,000/£548,619.
It was a tough assignment burdened by probable extracurricular activities in such a beautiful location.
Attempting to pre-empt the distractions of San Sebastian, Coleman was still house-hunting.
"I want a property outside of San Sebastian," Coleman said, per the Daily Mail. "It's too nice and I don't want to end up thinking that I am here on holiday."
Amid finding a new home, strengthening his relationship with De La Pena, getting to know the Sociedad players and scouting rival Segunda Division teams, Coleman was left exasperated by his inability to inspire his players.
"I have an interpreter in the dressing room but what I say [to the players] gets watered down," Coleman said, per Paul Fletcher at BBC Sport. "I get frustrated by it."
His Spanish teacher "going on holiday for two weeks" was another point of inconvenience Coleman dealt with as he desperately attempted to bridge the language barrier.
Ultimately, Coleman's biggest source of discontentment was living in a foreign nation and missing out on precious moments with his loved ones.
"It's bloody difficult to be away from my family, but the kids are in good schools, so I don't want to move them out here," Coleman said, per the Daily Mail. "Football management is my profession and that's a sacrifice I have to make."
To alleviate the isolation, Coleman and his assistant manager, Steve Kean, took turns to return to their families one day a week to temporarily escape the "lonely old game."
A combination of abandonment from family life, the pressure of promotion and the cultural barrier began clouting Coleman's decision-making.
Amid a five-game winless run in the Segunda Division from October 13 to November 11, 2007, rather than beat himself up over Sociedad's struggles, he indulged in a late night out.
Consequently, he arrived late at a press conference the following day.
What inflamed the situation was Coleman attempting to cover his indiscretion by claiming his washing machine broke down, per Sid Lowe at The Guardian.
Why did Coleman lie?
At the start of the season, he was unimpressed with the Sociedad players being "lackadaisical with their timekeeping," therefore he was trying to save face when he was caught out by the prying Spanish media.
Coleman eventually owned up to his error in judgement.
"I've been here for five months and I haven't had much of a social life, but last week, I ventured out into town," Coleman said, per the Daily Mail. "You can't move an inch in the wrong direction. It was my own fault."
Several days after his faux pas, Coleman tendered his resignation in reaction to his former boss, De La Pena, being pushed to step down.
Convinced to stay, Coleman turned a five-game winless run into a nine-game unbeaten streak, only to see it snapped in controversial circumstances to Salamanca.
Vexed by the club's change of philosophy, Coleman threatened to walk (again), only to be persuaded to stay (again).
"After Christmas it has been difficult, with the election [and] the new president," Coleman said, per ESPN FC. "What was the most important thing—my ego or the club? I think the club is a little bit more important than that."
Six days later, Coleman made it loud and clear that his ego was "a little bit more important than" the club.
"Chris Coleman has announced his resignation as coach of Spanish second division club Real Sociedad," per CNN. "[New Sociedad president Inaki Badiola's] ideas on the club's aims for the season and transfer policy differed greatly to the ones set out following Coleman's arrival."
Moyes is in a more unfavourable situation than Coleman.
- Coleman had a pre-season to acclimatise to San Sebastian, whereas Moyes is arriving mid-season expected to fix a mess.
- Sociedad were a Segunda Division team under Coleman with the aim of getting promoted. He started on a level playing field.
- Meanwhile, Moyes has a strong squad (on paper) since Sociedad beat UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid 4-2, defeated La Liga champions Atletico Madrid 2-1 and participated in the Champions League last season. He is tasked with finishing in the top six, and Sociedad are 12 points behind sixth-placed Malaga.
Another test for Moyes is Aperribay. Moyes' predecessor, Jagoba Arrasate, had his contract extended to 2016 in April and had the "absolute confidence" of Aperribay last month, per Mundo Deportivo (h/t FourFourTwo).
Being humiliated by fickle management is something Arrasate, Moyes and Coleman have in common.
"Leaving the club [Sociedad] is my biggest regret in management," Coleman said, per Neil McLeman at the Daily Mirror. "I should have shut my mouth and just got on with the job."
Here is the cautionary tale of Coleman's spell at Sociedad for Moyes: don't let the politicking get to you.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com
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