Grupo Pachuca Reshapes the Club’s Destiny

Grupo Pachuca, led by Jesús Martínez, has achieved what many thought was impossible: bringing Real Oviedo back to LaLiga after 24 years. The Mexican conglomerate took over the majority of shares from Grupo Carso, owned by Carlos Slim, in July 2022, ending a decade of control by the Mexican billionaire.

Though the preseason was already underway, Pachuca moved quickly. Martín Peláez was appointed club president immediately, followed by the arrival of Agustín Lleida as general director. Their first major decision came in October, dismissing sporting director Tito Blanco and coach Jon Pérez Bolo due to poor results, and hiring Álvaro Cervera to steady the ship.

Full Investment and the Paunovic Effect

From that point, Grupo Pachuca went all in. Key signings such as Jaime Seoane, Santiago Colombatto, and Alemao arrived on loan from within the group. Though Oviedo fell short last season in a playoff final loss to Espanyol, the front office redoubled its efforts.

The club made 11 new signings over the summer despite losing key players like Viti, Leo Román, and Abel Bretones, all of whom are now playing in LaLiga. After parting ways with Javi Calleja, they brought in Serbian manager Veljko Paunovic, a move that proved crucial.

Under Paunovic, Oviedo went unbeaten in their last 10 regular-season matches, earning seven wins and three draws to finish third in the table and secure a playoff spot.

In the knockout stage, Real Oviedo eliminated tournament favorites Almería, the highest-valued squad in the league, before defeating surprise package Mirandés in the final.

The long-awaited return to LaLiga is a major achievement for Real Oviedo and a clear success for the international ambitions of Grupo Pachuca, which continues expanding its footprint in world football.