Villarreal will be returning to the Champions League next season, but not with Marcelino Garcia Toral at the helm. The 60-year-old manager, who has led the Yellow Submarine to two consecutive top-five finishes in La Liga, will be stepping down at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Speculation surrounding Marcelino’s future has been rife in recent weeks. While negotiations for a contract extension were ongoing, the club has now confirmed that he will depart upon the expiry of his current deal in the summer.
“Villarreal CF and Marcelino García Toral will part ways at the end of the season. This marks the end of the Asturian coach’s second tenure with the club, having returned in 2023 and successfully guided them to Champions League qualification for the second consecutive year, a historic achievement for the club,” the official statement read.
“Villarreal CF wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Marcelino and his coaching staff for their professionalism, dedication, and hard work from day one. Their commitment and contribution to the team’s sporting development over the 7 seasons they have managed the team across both stints (2013-2016 and 2023-2026) are deeply appreciated. The Asturian coach has become the most games-managed coach in the club’s history, finishing with 298 matches across all competitions and holding the record for victories with 145 wins to date.”
“Villarreal CF will honor him during the final La Liga match against Atlético de Madrid, which will also serve as a Champions League celebration with the fans at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, Marce. Thank you for everything you have given to this club and its supporters. We wish you the very best in your future sporting endeavors.”
Villarreal Identifies Marcelino’s Successor
Anticipating Marcelino’s departure, Villarreal has moved swiftly to secure his likely replacement. Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez has reportedly reached an agreement to take over in the summer, though some details are still being finalized before the official announcement.