As if it was today… two years ago Leganés and Butarque paid tribute to Asier Garitano and Mantovani on their club farewell. It was one of the most emotional days on the club’s recent history as both have become legends. The manager and the defender had their last day as pepineros on a match against Real Betis.
It was the last matchday of LaLiga and Leganés had already reached the survival a couple of weeks before. The team received the visit of Real Betis, a team that was qualified to European competitions. After securing the survival, Asier Garitano had announced he was stepping back from the team management, Mantovani also announced that his days as a pepinero footballer had come to an end.
On his last match at Butarque’s bench, Asier Garitano’s initial squad was: Serantes, Tito, Ezequiel Muñoz, Siovas, Diego Rico, Rubén Pérez, Gumbau, Omar Ramos, Brasanac, Naranjo and Guerrero. Zaldua, Amrabat and Mantovani got to play on the second half.
The match was full of emotions and tributes, one of them to Serantes who played an official match after getting injured a year and a half before at Cornellà-El Prat. The goalkeeper would leave the club a couple months later.
Betis started winning the match but Leganés cameback with Siovas and Naranjo’s goals. Sanabria tied the match but Amrabat scored the winner for the locals. After the final whistle all the stadium cheered up on the coach and the captain, two people that were key to take Leganés from Segunda 'B' to First Division.
