La Liga: Villarreal coach to leave at end of season
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Villarreal coach Marcelino will leave at the end of the season despite guiding the Yellow Submarines into next season’s Champions League, the club announced on Monday.
It is the second year running that the 2021 Europa League winners have qualified for Europe’s top club competition, but Marcelino was unable to agree to an extension with the club, according to local press.
The 60-year-old Spaniard is in his second spell at the club, having coached Villarreal from 2013-16 and then rejoined the team in 2023.
He took the team away from the relegation zone in 2023/24 and up to an eighth-placed finish, and the following season led Villarreal to fifth and Champions League qualification
Their 5-1 thrashing of Levante on Saturday ensured a top-four finish — they are currently third — and a second consecutive Champions League appearance for the first time.
According to the local press, Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez is in the running to succeed Marcelino.
Mid-table Vallecano are playing in Europe for only the second time in their history and take a 1-0 first-leg lead into their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg away to Strasbourg on Thursday.
AFP
