Volkswacht Bodensee - Villarreal appoint Inigo Perez after Rayo success

"Villarreal CF have reached an agreement with Inigo Perez, who will be the first-team manager for the next three seasons, until June 2029," the La Liga club said in a statement.

Perez takes charge after Marcelino failed to reach agreement on a contract renewal after leading the club to third place in La Liga and Champions League football next season.

Perez arrives after two-and-a-half-years at the helm of the Madrid-based Rayo Vallecano who finished eighth in La Liga this season.

The 38-year-old led Rayo to the Conference League final which they lost last week to Crystal Palace.

Villarreal will be the second team managed by Perez, a former Athletic Bilbao midfielder, who began his head coaching career with Rayo Vallecano.

Perez had arrived at Rayo as Andoni Iraola's assistant, but was unable to follow him to England due to bureaucratic issues when Iraola moved to Bournemouth in 2023.

However in February 2024, Rayo brought him back as head coach until his departure for Villarreal.

R.Kloeti--VB