It seems clear who will lead Villarreal in the Champions League

Following Villarreal's official announcement regarding coach Marcelino's impending departure, the focus has shifted to his successor for next season. According to "AS," club owner Fernando Roig has set his sights on Rayo Vallecano's manager, Iñigo Pérez.

Marcelino secured his team's Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season with four rounds to spare. Having achieved this goal, he signaled to the club that it was time to make public what both parties had known since January: they would be parting ways.

The challenge lies in the differing timelines between Villarreal and Marcelino, and Rayo Vallecano and Iñigo Pérez. Consequently, the "Yellow Submarine" must feign ignorance about who will take over from the Asturian coach. This is out of respect for both the Madrid club and the Navarrese coach, as they are currently embroiled in a battle for European qualification. Crucially, they face a historic Conference League semi-final second leg this Thursday, defending a 1-0 lead.

Villarreal's shortlist of potential coaches featured several names with similar profiles: Spanish specialists familiar with La Liga, experienced in working with young players, and with proven track records. This included Míchel, Giráldez, Imanol, and Iñigo Pérez. From the outset, Pérez was the preferred choice for the management due to his character and coaching style. However, Villarreal now has no option but to wait for the Navarrese coach to conclude the season with Rayo before finalizing a two-year contract with an option for a third.