Xisco

Betis Xisco signed with Real Betis in 2005 on a six-year deal, often delivering in various attacking positions and displaying all-around teamwork. He netted three times in 2006–07, including a couple of late goals against Racing de Santander and Gimnàstic de Tarragona as the Andalusians only avoided top-flight relegation in the last matchday.

In a rocky 2008–09 season, which ended in relegation, Xisco only featured in nine games, scoring once. Dark spots included being replaced after having himself been used as a substitute in a 2–1 home defeat to Málaga, on 11 January 2009.

Levante and later career In the dying minutes of the August 2009 transfer window, Xisco rescinded his Betis contract and joined Levante also in the second division, for two seasons. In his first, he played the most he had in years, also scoring eight goals as the Valencian Community side returned to the top flight after a two-year absence.

Xisco contributed 26 matches – 18 starts – in 2010–11, as Levante finally managed to stay afloat. On 22 January 2011, he scored his only goal of the campaign in a 4–1 away loss against Sevilla, and was released in May.

Already aged 30, Xisco moved abroad for the first time, signing with Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia and sharing teams with several compatriots. In 2012–13, he won the Erovnuli Liga and also scored a career-best 22 goals, best in the competition. The player and the team retained their titles a year later, and his goal concluded the 3–0 win at Sioni Bolnisi that confirmed it.

On 14 December 2014, Xisco returned to his homeland after agreeing to an 18-month deal with third-tier Gimnàstic. On 18 June 2016, he announced his retirement and became Vicente Moreno's assistant. In September of the following year, he stood in as manager of farm team Pobla de Mafumet in the Tercera División, after the promotion of Rodri to the Nàstic job.

Coaching career Dinamo Tbilisi Xisco returned to Dinamo Tbilisi in January 2019, as part of Zaur Svanadze's staff. He left at the end of the year, after the team had claimed the national championship following a three-year absence.

In August 2020, Xisco again returned to Dinamo, now as head coach of the club. With several compatriots on the pitch and the bench, they won the league in December.

Watford Xisco was appointed as manager of Watford on 21 December 2020, after the dismissal of Vladimir Ivić. His debut in the EFL Championship was five days later, a 1–0 home victory over leaders Norwich City.

After a run of five straight wins, Xisco was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2021. On 24 April, his team achieved promotion to the Premier League with two games remaining, after a 1–0 win against Millwall at Vicarage Road.

Xisco was sacked on 3 October 2021, with the side being 15th after seven matches; it was the 13th change in the club's hotseat since the arrival of owner Gino Pozzo in 2012. In an official statement, Watford wrote that the coach had been presiding over a "negative trend at a time when team cohesion should be visibly improving".

Huesca On 26 October 2021, Xisco signed as coach of Huesca. Having finished in 13th in his only season with nine wins out of 30, he was replaced in June by José Ángel Ziganda.

Anorthosis On 4 October 2022, Xisco was appointed manager of Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis until the end of the season. Three months later, after a series of five winless games, he was replaced by Vesko Mihajlović.

Sheffield Wednesday On 4 July 2023, Xisco joined Sheffield Wednesday as head coach; he brought in his brother Miguel as assistant, Roberto Cuesta as first-team coach and Antonello Brambilla as goalkeeper coach, all of whom he had worked with at Watford. His first competitive game in charge was at home to newly relegated Southampton, a 2–1 defeat, and culminated in a 1–0 away loss to West Bromwich Albion on 3 October. He had led the Owls to their worst ever start to a season, with just two points from the first ten matches. A day later, he was dismissed.

DAC Dunajská Streda On 19 November 2023, Xisco signed as manager of DAC Dunajská Streda until the end of the campaign, with the option of another year. He was relieved of his duties on 27 November 2024.

Johor Darul Ta'zim Xisco became coach of Johor Darul Ta'zim on 6 June 2025. During his first season in charge, he led the team to a fourth consecutive domestic treble, winning the Malaysia Super League, Malaysia FA Cup and Malaysia Cup. Additionally, he guided them to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite, where they lost 2–1 to defending champions Al-Ahli.

Personal life Xisco is the older brother of another footballer, Toni Muñoz. He appeared once for Mallorca's first team, but spent the vast majority of his career in the lower leagues of his country.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours Player Valencia La Liga: 2003–04 2013–14 Georgian Super Cup: 2014

Individual Erovnuli Liga top scorer: 2012–13, Erovnuli Liga Player of the Year: 2013–14

Manager Dinamo Tbilisi Erovnuli Liga: 2020 Malaysia FA Cup: 2025–26 Piala Sumbangsih: 2025

Individual EFL Championship Manager of the Month: March 2021