Rayo Vallecano coach IƱigo PƩrez is leaving after taking the modest Spanish club to its first final
Rayo Vallecano coach IƱigo PƩrez is leaving after taking the modest Spanish club to its first final
Fri, May 29, 2026 at 12:08 PM UTC
0
1 / 0Germany Conference League Final SoccerRayo's head coach Inigo Perez passes the trophy of the Europa Conference League after the final soccer match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
MADRID (AP) ā Rayo Vallecano coach IƱigo PĆ©rez is stepping down, two days after the modest Spanish club lost the Conference League final.
PĆ©rez led Rayo, a small neighborhood-based club from Madrid, to its first major final where it fell 1-0 to Crystal Palace.
Rayo president MartĆn Presa confirmed Friday in a press conference that PĆ©rez was not going to sign a new contract, with his current deal set to expire.
The 38-year-old former player was an assistant under former Rayo coach Andoni Iraola, who left in 2023 to take over Bournemouth. PĆ©rez became its head coach in January 2024 and quickly impressed with his composed demeanor and the pressing style he instilled in his team.
Advertisement
In 2024-25, PĆ©rez led Rayo to an eighth-place finish in La Liga, which was good enough for its first European berth in two decades.
PĆ©rez has not said where his next job will be. He has been linked with a move to Villarreal, which will play in the Champions League next season.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Source: āAOL Sportsā
