Villarreal has officially named Inigo Perez, the former coach of Rayo Vallecano, as their new first-team coach. Perez, aged 38, has signed a three-year contract that will run until June 2029. He takes over from Marcelino Garcia Toral, who departed despite leading Villarreal to a third-place finish in La Liga last season.
Perez’s coaching journey saw him at Rayo Vallecano for over two seasons, where he steered the team to safety and secured a spot in the UEFA Conference League. Under his guidance, Rayo Vallecano reached a historic European final but suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.
Hailing from Athletic Bilbao’s youth system, Perez retired from playing in 2022 and transitioned into coaching. Known for his success on a limited budget, Perez’s achievements have solidified his reputation as one of Spain’s promising young coaches.
Perez’s coaching career began at Rayo Vallecano, where he eventually led the team to the final of the UEFA Conference League. Despite the final loss, his performance caught the attention of Villarreal, leading to his appointment as the new first-team coach.
