Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina has resigned, soon after his side staged a dramatic escape from relegation in their final league match of the season.

"I think it is better to leave now at a moment of celebration rather than delay things," said Lotina after a last-gasp 1-0 home win over Real Sociedad.

Lotina took charge of Espanyol at the start of last season and steered the side to their best league placing in almost a decade when they finished fifth in the Primera Liga.

This season they won the King's Cup, crushing Real Zaragoza 4-1 in the final at the Bernabeu, but their future in the top flight was in doubt right up to the last minute.

"I think it has been a very satisfactory two years," said Lotina. "I don't say that just because we won the Cup, but also because we have played some good football.

"We have done a lot of good work with the youth sides and in a recent game eight home-grown players played for the first team. I can only praise Espanyol and I believe that the club has all the ingredients needed to triumph in the future.

"I'm now going to take a rest and I can tell you that I have not signed an agreement with any other club."