With the European season formally at an finish, Soccer España shall be reviewing every one of many La Liga sides and the way they fared this season.
Outcomes:
La Liga: fifteenth – 42 factors
Copa del Rey: Second Spherical
Prime Goalscorer: Kike Garcia – 15
Prime Assister: Carlos Vicente – 6
Season Abstract
Alaves seemed themselves for the opening stage of the season; gritty, purposeful and onerous to beat. But an extended winless run for Luis Garcia Plaza noticed him sacked in November, to the overall bafflement of the general public and press. In got here Chacho Coudet, and whereas he did finish their winless run in January, Alaves didn’t look significantly better in all honesty. The sturdy type of Kike Garcia noticed Los Babazorros decide up some essential wins in 2025 although, most notably hammering Actual Betis away.
Coudet, beforehand related to an up-tempo however overtly offensive fashion did adapt effectively although, and you would see his aspect battled for him down the stretch, wherein in the end, Alaves weren’t enjoying for survival on the ultimate day of the season, assembly their goals.
Verdict: B
It might need seemed a bit wobbly at instances. Sacking Garcia Plaza appeared harsh on the time and with three months to go, Alaves followers had been chanting his identify within the stadium. He was their longest-serving supervisor in 21 years, and ending his two-year contract signed final summer time did away with any illusions of stability.
However, staying up is the secret at Mendizorrotza, and to Coudet’s credit score, he got here out the opposite aspect of that strain together with his goals met and an Alaves that stay a troublesome nut to crack.
Participant of the Season: Carlos Vicente
As troublesome as it’s to look past Garcia hitting double figures, Carlos Vicente is the person that embodies this Alaves. A lot of their assault runs by him – and he runs by brick partitions for his or her assault and defence. Memorably in opposition to Actual Madrid, he was seen usually at right-back defending Vinicius Junior earlier than bombing again up the opposite finish to take the combat to Fran Garcia.
Tiralo a fallar, toda la grada y Carlos Vicente marcando el penalti, la buena relación por parte de aficion entre Osasuna y Alavés querían meter al Osasuna en europa, pero un sivera DESLUMBRANTE y un Carlos Vicente anotando de penalti les dió el empate que no le sirvió de nada. pic.twitter.com/4fQioRAArD
— Fonceleste 🇪🇺 (@aspasenvena) Might 26, 2025
Past the operating although, he supplies hazard, with a robust shot, a supply that defenders dread and powerful old school wing-play. 5 objectives, six assists and lots extra factors got here from Vicente.
Nice Shock of the Season: Santiago Mourino
It appears Alaves do a great commerce in a goal man and a centre-back. Signed from Atletico Madrid final summer time, there’s speak that he may head again there after turning into certainly one of their standouts within the ultimate months. Abdel Abqar, Rafa Marin and now Mourino are all in an analogous mould, and that’s a great signal for the Uruguayan.
If solely we may have had a bit extra from: Tomas Conechny
Early on within the season, Conechny confirmed flashes of why he emerged in Argentina with a giant status. Conechny has the guile and tender contact that Alaves don’t possess in spades, and if he may have discovered his kind, it might have been transformative for an Alaves assault to have Vicente on one aspect, and Conechny’s wit on the opposite.
On the horizon, you see…
Most likely one thing fairly just like this season in all honesty. There is no such thing as a suggestion of a significant shift within the enjoying squad, and so they should work onerous to interchange the likes of Abqar, Mourino, and particularly, Garcia. When Samu Aghehowa’s mortgage transfer expired, Garcia was already beginning forward of him, and there was a transparent plan – much less so now.
Alaves will rely as a lot on their competitors as themselves to remain up subsequent yr. This yr Actual Valladolid didn’t put up a lot of a combat, and it’s truthful to say that had Garcia been on Las Palmas’ or Leganes’ squads, then they is likely to be again subsequent yr as an alternative. With the veteran off to Espanyol, discovering a goalscorer is prime of their listing.