Villarreal have confirmed that head coach Marcelino García Toral will depart the club at the end of the current campaign, despite guiding the team to a historic second consecutive Champions League qualification.
The 60-year-old’s second tenure will conclude following the season finale against Atlético Madrid on May 24, ending a storied association that saw him lead the “Yellow Submarine” in a club-record 298 matches.
The decision follows a reported breakdown in contract negotiations, where the board’s offer of a 12-month extension clashed with Marcelino’s desire for a long-term project at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
While the club’s domestic form has been exceptional—sitting third in La Liga after a recent 5-1 thrashing of Levante—the hierarchy was reportedly disappointed by a winless Champions League group phase this term.
Marcelino leaves as the most successful coach in the club’s history, boasting 145 victories and the distinction of returning the side to the Spanish top flight during his first spell in 2013.
Speculation is already mounting regarding his next destination, with the veteran tactician reportedly eyeing a move to the English Premier League amid links to Newcastle United and Crystal Palace.
For Villarreal, the search for a successor begins immediately as they prepare for a milestone 2026/27 season featuring back-to-back appearances in Europe’s elite competition for the first time.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Marce,” the club stated, acknowledging the indelible mark left by a manager who helped transform them into a perennial powerhouse of Spanish football.
