Rayo Vallecano manager Iñigo Pérez will leave this summer after his contract expires, and is expected to take over at Villarreal.

Rayo Vallecano announced on Friday that they will part ways with manager Iñigo Perez this summer as his term expires. As for Perez's next destination, all signs point to Villarreal.

The 38-year-old Perez initially served as assistant coach to Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano before officially taking over as head coach of the first team in February 2024. During his tenure, he achieved a record of 44 wins, 33 draws, and 36 losses, and led the team to a historic final appearance in the 2025/26 European Championship.

Regarding Perez's departure, Rayo Vallecano president Raúl Martín Presa said with regret: "Today is a farewell day. I believe Iñigo will leave as a better coach. Thank you for his hard work and countless hours for the team, which were key factors in the team's success. The secret to success is hard work, and he certainly did. I wish him all the best in the future."

“Today doesn’t have to be a sad day,” he concluded. “Everything has a beginning and an end, and we should remember all the good memories.”

Iñigo then addressed the players present, saying, "You are not just my players. Many of you here know that you have always supported me. You understand my fears and give me strength. I will never tell anyone everything we share in private."

He later added, "My departure was more of a personal decision than a competitive one. It was the toughest decision of my career, but I think it was necessary."

“There wasn’t a single moment when I felt like I couldn’t go on, but I realized that I couldn’t recover my energy as quickly as I used to. I started to think about it repeatedly and worried about whether I could maintain my form next season.”

"Rayo Vallecano has a magic that makes people reluctant to leave. We persevere, we don't stop, but keep improving. Although we lost a few days ago, I am quite calm. We have achieved our goals together over the past two and a half years and also achieved unexpected dreams. I am satisfied with what we have accomplished."

Finally, Perez concluded: "About five days ago, I informed the players of my departure. This experience has been very special and wonderful for me. I have deep feelings for this place, but we must face the departure with dignity. I want to thank everyone again for their love and support along the way, but life goes on."

Image source: Internet/Le Monde