Villarreal has qualified for the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League, and Marcelino will leave at season's end. A 5-1 win over Levante, per La Liga, sealed the qualification. Marcelino returned to Villarreal in November 2023 when the team was 13th with 12 points.
According to La Liga standings, Villarreal are currently third, and the club's records show Marcelino holds the most matches (298) and most wins (145) as coach. "We're going into the Champions League through the front door, brilliantly," Marcelino said. " Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez is expected to be Marcelino's replacement, according to multiple reports in Spanish media.
We are a Champions League team (again).
The official announcement date and the reasons for Marcelino's departure remain unknown, as does whether Villarreal will retain key players for their Champions League campaign.