 In 2004–05, Lotina coached RCD Espanyol to qualification to the UEFA Cup, after finishing fifth.The year 2006 brought him his first football trophy, as the team won the domestic cup against Real Zaragoza (4–1) in the manager's second season.In the 2006–07 campaign, he returned to his native region after replacing sacked José Mari Bakero at the helm of 20th-placed Real Sociedad, but the Basques were relegated from the first division for the first time in 40 years, after ranking second from bottom.