Former Real Madrid great Jose Maria Gutierrez, commonly known as Guti, has taken on his first senior head coaching role for Almeria, confirmed the Segunda club on Monday.

Formerly an attacking midfielder for the Real Madrid for 15 years, the 43-year-old Guti left the club in 2010, and retired as a player the year after from Besiktas.

A talented playmaker, Guti won La Liga title five times with Real Madrid where he served for nearly 25 years. 

He went on to coach the Real Madrid youths for several years, followed by taking up an assistant position to Senol Gunes at Besiktas where he last played.

Almeria is now second in Segunda, 10 points short from the top-ranked Cadiz after 14 rounds. As the new head coach after Pedro Emanuel, Guti's first game will be against the fifth-placed Real Zaragoza on Sunday.