Pepe Mel

Pepe Mel
Mel in 2011
Personal information
Full name José Mel Pérez
Date of birth (1963-02-28) 28 February 1963 (age 60)
Place of birth Madrid, Spain
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1974–1982 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1983 Real Madrid C
1983–1987 Real Madrid B 72 (15)
1983–1984Alcalá (loan) 52 (35)
1987 Osasuna 0 (0)
1987–1989 Castellón 62 (27)
1989–1993 Betis 112 (50)
1993–1995 Granada 63 (31)
1995–1996 Benidorm 31 (15)
1996–1997 Getafe 37 (17)
1997 Écija 10 (2)
1998 Angers 16 (3)
Total 455 (195)
Managerial career
1999–2000 Coslada
2000 Mérida
2000–2001 Murcia
2001–2002 Tenerife
2003 Getafe
2003–2004 Alavés
2004–2005 Poli Ejido
2006–2010 Rayo Vallecano
2010–2013 Betis
2014 West Bromwich Albion
2014–2016 Betis
2017 Deportivo La Coruña
2019–2022 Las Palmas
2022–2023 Málaga
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

José "Pepe" Mel Pérez (born 28 February 1963) is a Spanish former footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.

He amassed Segunda División totals of 215 matches and 78 goals over eight seasons, for Real Madrid Castilla, Castellón and Betis. He also played in La Liga with the last of those clubs.

Mel took up coaching in 1999, going on to be in charge of several teams, mainly Rayo Vallecano and Betis, leading the latter to the second-tier championship in 2011 and 2015.

Playing career

Castellón and Betis

Born in Madrid, Mel started his career with Real Madrid, joining the club's youth system in 1974 at the age of 11 and playing alongside the likes of Emilio Butragueño and Míchel, although he never represented the first team, only competing at senior level with the reserves. In late 1987, after a very brief spell with CA Osasuna, he moved to Segunda División with CD Castellón where he played two years, helping the Valencian Community side to return to La Liga in his second season after an absence of seven years.

Mel enjoyed his best years at Real Betis, signing with the Andalusia team in 1989 and helping them to achieve promotion in his debut campaign whilst winning the Pichichi Trophy with 22 goals, one better than in the previous season at Castellón. He scored 14 times the following year, but suffered immediate relegation; his debut in the competition was on 2 September 1990, and he found the net in a 2–2 home draw against Sporting de Gijón.

Later career

Mel played his remaining years in the Segunda División B and also in France, with Granada CF – two years – Benidorm CF and Getafe CF, splitting his final season between Écija Balompié and Angers SCO. He retired at the age of 35, with a Spanish second division tally of 215 games and 78 goals.

Coaching career

Early years and Rayo

Mel started coaching one year after retiring, his first club being amateurs CD Coslada in the Community of Madrid. In 2001, after one year at Real Murcia in division two, he replaced Valencia CF-bound Rafael Benítez at the helm of CD Tenerife, having his first spell in the top flight as a coach and suffering relegation.

In the following four seasons, Mel worked in the second level, being sacked early into 2005–06 by Polideportivo Ejido. Shortly after, he dropped down a tier and moved to Rayo Vallecano, helping the Madrid club to return to the second division in his second year and subsequently leading it to the fifth place, with chances of promotion until the last month of competition.

Betis

Mel training with Betis in December 2010

On 15 February 2010, after a string of poor results, Mel was dismissed by Rayo, being replaced by director of football Felipe Miñambres who helped the side to the 11th place. In the summer, he signed with former side Betis also in the second tier, leading the Verdiblancos back to the top flight in his first year.

Mel coached Betis to the seventh position in the 2012–13 campaign, with the subsequent qualification for the UEFA Europa League. He was relieved of his duties on 2 December 2013, however, after falling to a 4–0 derby loss at Sevilla FC and conceding a last-minute 2–2 home equaliser to Rayo Vallecano.

West Bromwich Albion

On 9 January 2014, Mel signed an 18-month contract with West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. His first match in charge came 11 days later, a 1–1 home draw against Everton.

Mel obtained his first win in English football after seven games, with a 2–1 victory at Swansea City on 15 March 2014. On 12 May, one day after the end of the season where he led the Baggies to the 17th place, he left by mutual consent with a record of three wins from 17 games.

Return to Betis

Mel returned to former club Betis in December 2014, with a contract lasting until the end of the campaign. He was the April 2015 Segunda División Manager of the Month after his team won all their games, scoring 11 goals and conceding two. On 24 May, after only one loss in his tenure, the league was won as champions and promotion achieved with a 3–0 win over AD Alcorcón.

Mel was fired on 11 January 2016, with his team in 15th place following a poor run of form and also strained relationship.

Deportivo

On 28 February 2017, Mel was appointed at Deportivo de La Coruña until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Gaizka Garitano at a team two points above the relegation zone in the top division and winless in the new year. He was himself dismissed on 24 October, due to poor results.

Las Palmas

Mel was named manager of UD Las Palmas on 4 March 2019, replacing Paco Herrera who had been fired earlier the same day, and signed a contract until the end of the season. On 23 January 2022, he was relieved of his duties.

Málaga

On 21 September 2022, Mel joined Málaga CF also in the second division. He was sacked the following 25 January 2023, with the club still in the relegation places.

Outside football

Mel is also a novelist, having published three books, Liar, The Road to the Afterlife and The Test.

Managerial statistics

As of match played 21 January 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Coslada Spain 1 July 1999 30 June 2000 44 27 10 7 78 39 +39 061.36
Mérida Spain 30 June 2000 26 September 2000 4 3 1 0 10 4 +6 075.00
Murcia Spain 26 September 2000 27 June 2001 42 13 13 16 55 58 −3 030.95
Tenerife Spain 27 June 2001 18 February 2002 27 6 6 15 19 42 −23 022.22
Getafe Spain 21 January 2003 26 June 2003 23 8 8 7 26 28 −2 034.78
Alavés Spain 26 June 2003 30 June 2004 50 22 19 9 57 39 +18 044.00
Poli Ejido Spain 30 June 2004 14 November 2005 56 15 17 24 54 71 −17 026.79
Rayo Vallecano Spain 17 June 2006 15 February 2010 169 76 58 35 240 157 +83 044.97
Betis Spain 12 July 2010 2 December 2013 156 67 33 56 235 210 +25 042.95
West Bromwich Albion England 9 January 2014 12 May 2014 17 3 6 8 20 31 −11 017.65
Betis Spain 23 December 2014 11 January 2016 46 21 12 13 65 54 +11 045.65
Deportivo La Coruña Spain 27 February 2017 24 October 2017 24 6 7 11 27 40 −13 025.00
Las Palmas Spain 4 March 2019 23 January 2022 128 44 41 43 154 157 −3 034.38
Málaga Spain 21 September 2022 25 January 2023 20 3 10 7 16 20 −4 015.00
Total 806 314 241 251 1,056 950 +106 038.96

Honours

Player

Castellón

Manager

Rayo Vallecano

Betis

Individual


This page was last updated at 2023-10-12 15:45 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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