Inigo Perez Departs Rayo Vallecano After Historic European Run
Rayo Vallecano has officially announced the departure of manager Inigo Perez as confirmed by President Raul Martin Presa. After leading the club to its first-ever European final in the Conference League and achieving back-to-back 8th-place finishes, Perez's contract will not be renewed this summer. Following a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace in Leipzig, which marked what is likely his final game, Perez appeared emotional and chose not to comment on his future, stating it was ‘not the right moment’. However, reports from Diario AS soon revealed that he would indeed be leaving the club. In a conversation with Marca, Presa expressed his admiration for Perez, stating: “He’s a great coach and a good person, but I would have liked him to stay for life, and I told him so.” Presa emphasized the need for decisions that prioritize the club over individual desires, hinting at aspirations for a long-term project akin to Diego Simeone’s tenure at Atletico Madrid. Prior to the final, Sporting Director David Cobeno mentioned that the club had not begun searching for a replacement, although he acknowledged it would be ‘difficult’ to retain Perez. Speculation now arises regarding potential successors, with Villarreal reportedly interested in hiring Perez as a replacement for Marcelino.
Source: Football España - 2026-05-28