Early career Born in
Seville,
Andalusia, Abascal joined
FC Barcelona's
La Masia in 2001, from hometown amateurs AD Heliópolis CF. He left the club in 2004, and finished his formation with
Sevilla FC. Abascal retired from professional football at the age of 18, and started studying at the
Pablo de Olavide University in his hometown, while still representing amateurs UDE Abre and CD Aboño. He also spent a year at the
University of Algarve, and returned to Sevilla in 2013 as a youth
fitness coach. His first managerial experience came in 2016, when he took over Sevilla's
Infantil B squad.
Chiasso On 12 June 2017, Abascal moved abroad, being appointed manager of
Swiss Challenge League side
FC Chiasso. He made his professional debut ten days later in a 2–2 draw at
Servette FC on the opening day of the
season. Abascal was sacked on 4 April 2018, after suffering six defeats in his last eight matches.
Lugano On 10 April 2018, Abascal was named at the helm of
Ticino neighbours
FC Lugano in the
Swiss Super League until the end of
the season; he drew 1–1 at home to
FC Thun in his first top-flight game. From being placed ninth and threatened with relegation, he led the club to eighth position, three points shy of the European qualification places.
Ascoli In July 2019, Abascal was hired as manager for the
Primavera (under-19) squad of Italian club
Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC. The following 27 January,
Paolo Zanetti was dismissed as the head coach of the senior squad, and Abascal was appointed as caretaker manager. Abascal won 3–0 in
Serie B in his only game away to
U.S. Livorno 1915 on 1 February 2020. The next day,
Roberto Stellone was hired and Abascal returned to his previous role; he came back to the first team on 16 April, after Stellone was dismissed. Following two defeats in two games in charge by the time the league season was resumed after the
COVID-19 forced break, Abascal was dismissed on 22 June 2020.
Volos In June 2021, Abascal was appointed at
Super League Greece club
Volos FC. He won four of his first five games, but was dismissed in December after six consecutive defeats.
Basel Abascal came back to Switzerland's top flight at
FC Basel on 21 February 2022, following the termination of
Patrick Rahmen's contract. Despite coming second to
FC Zürich in his interim spell, he was replaced by club icon
Alexander Frei in May.
Spartak Moscow On 10 June 2022, Abascal signed with
Russian Premier League club
FC Spartak Moscow. He beat eight other candidates to the two-year contract. The current
Russian Cup holders were due to play in the
UEFA Europa League but were barred due to the
FIFA and
UEFA response to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine. Abascal's debut occurred on 9 July 2022, in a
4–0 Super Cup loss to
FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. His first
Russian Premier League game was a 1–1 away draw against
FC Akhmat Grozny on 16 July. Abascal won his first match next week, on 23 July, in a 1–4 victory over
FC Krasnodar. Spartak won their next three games and took the league lead after five games played on 14 August 2022. By the season's winter break in November, Spartak was second in the league table. By the end of the season, however, they finished third. Under his leadership, Spartak began the 2023–24 season by winning five matches out of five, making it the most successful season start in the club's history. Abascal was dismissed by Spartak on 14 April 2024.
Granada On 19 June 2024, Abascal was appointed manager of
Granada CF in his home country's
Segunda División, after agreeing to a one-year contract. He was sacked on 20 September, after one win in six matches. ==Managerial statistics==