MADRID, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Real Oviedo has named Luis Carrion as its new head coach after sacking Veljko Paunovic earlier on Thursday.

Carrion returns to the club around 16 months after having left Oviedo to join Las Palmas after the 2023-24 season.

His previous tenure at Oviedo began when the club was facing relegation to Spain's third tier, and he turned things around to lead it to the promotion playoffs for La Liga.

After just missing out on promotion, Carrion decided to leave and join Las Palmas, but was sacked after a disastrous start to the 2024-25 season with the club bottom of the table after failing to win any of their opening nine matches.

Paunovic was dismissed after Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Levante, but departs with Oviedo above the relegation zone, having recorded two wins and six defeats in their first eight matches since earning promotion last season. ■