Early career

Born in Seville, Andalusia, Abascal joined FC Barcelona's La Masia in 2001, from hometown amateurs AD Heliópolis CF.^[1] He left the club in 2004, and finished his formation with Sevilla FC.^[2]

Abascal retired from professional football at the age of 18, and started studying at the Pablo de Olavide University in his hometown,^[3] 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.^{[citation needed]} His first managerial experience came in 2016, when he took over Sevilla's Infantil B squad.^[4]

FC Chiasso

On 12 June 2017, Abascal moved abroad, being appointed manager of Swiss Challenge League side FC Chiasso.^[5] He made his professional debut ten days later in a 2–2 draw at Servette FC on the opening day of the season.^[6] Abascal was sacked on 4 April 2018, after suffering six defeats in his last eight matches.^[7]

Six days later, he was named at the helm of Ticino neighbours FC Lugano in the Swiss Super League until the end of the season;^[8] he drew 1–1 at home to FC Thun in his first top-flight game.^[9] From being placed ninth and threatened with relegation, he led the club to eighth position, three points shy of the European qualification places.^{[citation needed]}

Ascoli

In July 2019, Abascal was hired as manager for the Primavera squad (U19) of Italian club Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC.^[10] The following 27 January, Paolo Zanetti was dismissed as the head coach of the senior squad, and Abascal was appointed as caretaker manager.^[11] He won 3–0 in Serie B in his only game away to U.S. Livorno 1915 on 1 February.^[12] 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.^[13] Following two defeats in two games in charge by the time the league season was resumed after the COVID-19 forced break, he was dismissed on 22 June.^[14]

Volos

In June 2021, Abascal was appointed at Super League Greece club Volos FC.^[15] He won four of his first five games, but was dismissed in December after six consecutive defeats.^[16]

FC Basel

Abascal came back to Switzerland's top flight at FC Basel on 21 February 2022, following the termination of Patrick Rahmen's contract.^[17] Despite coming second to FC Zürich in his interim spell, he was replaced by club icon Alexander Frei in May.^[18]

Spartak Moscow

On 10 June 2022, Abascal signed with Russian Premier League club FC Spartak Moscow.^[19] 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.^[20]

His debut was on 9 July in a 4–0 Super Cup loss to Zenit St Petersburg. His first league game was a 1–1 away draw against Akhmat Grozny on 16 July.^[21] 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 5 games played on 14 August 2022.^[22] 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. He was dismissed by Spartak on 14 April 2024.^[23]