Villarreal Coach Marcelino to Depart at Season's End

Villarreal's current coach, Marcelino, will depart from the club at the end of the season, as announced on Monday. Despite guiding the team to a second consecutive Champions League appearance and finishing third in La Liga, Marcelino was unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension.

The 60-year-old Spaniard has had two spells at Villarreal, first from 2013 to 2016 and then rejoining in 2023. Under his management, Villarreal avoided relegation and achieved an eighth-place finish in the 2023-24 season.

The team secured their Champions League qualification by thrashing Levante 5-1, which ensured their top-four finish. Local press reports suggest that Rayo Vallecano's coach, Inigo Perez, is a potential successor to Marcelino.

Villarreal is also competing in the Europa Conference League, having a 1-0 lead in the first leg of the semi-final against Strasbourg.