Andrei Rațiu's coach made the jump to the Champions League! » With whom will he sign after breaking up with Rayo
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Friday, May 29, 2026, 2:22 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 29, 2026, 2:30 p.m.
Andrei Rațiu was left without a coach at Rayo. Two days after losing the Conference League final, 0-1 to Crystal Palace, Inigo Perez left and found himself a contract with third-placed Villarreal in La Liga.
The match in Leipzig between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano meant the end of the mandates for both coaches! The Austrian manager said goodbye to the Conference League winners on Thursday and his loser did the same the following day.
Inigo Perez did not extend his contract due on June 30 and ended his two-year, four-month spell at Rayo. However, Andrei Rațiu's coach had prepared the next step and took advantage of the departure of Marcelino Garcia Toral from Villarreal.
Inigo Perez wants to win the Conference League with Ratiu and company before leaving // photo: Imago
The team that sold Rayo's share of the co-ownership of “Sonic” and that finished on the podium in the last Spanish championship, ahead of Atletico Madrid, agreed with Inigo Perez for a commitment valid for two seasons.
Rayo president: “A great coach and a good person. I would have liked him to stay for life and I told him that”
The 113 games in charge of Rayo also meant his first experience as a head coach. Inigo Perez (38) had been an assistant at the Vallecas side during the 2022-2023 season before being promoted as A1.
President Raul Martin Presa was resigned to Inigo Perez leaving: “I'm not sure who will train the team. He's a great coach and a good person, but I would have liked him to stay for life and I told him so.
Ivan Balliu argued with coach Inigo Perez after being replaced by Andrei Rațiu / Photo: Imago
I wanted a project similar to Simeone's at Atletico Madrid, but the club and the emblem are more important than all others and decisions have to be made.”
Ahead of Wednesday's final, sporting director David Cobeno commented that he had not looked for another coach, but that it would be “difficult” to keep Inigo Perez.
If he missed the chance to coach in the Europa League, Perez manages a double jump forward. He will prepare the team from “La Ceramica” next year, in only his fourth season as a coach.
