Pepe Mel

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

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Mel and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Pepe Mel
Mel in 2011
Personal information
Full name José Mel Pérez[1]
Date of birth (1963-02-28) 28 February 1963[1]
Place of birth Madrid, Spain[1]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
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)
1983–1984 → Alcalá (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

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.[2][3] 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.[4][5]

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.[6][7] 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.[8]

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.[9][10]

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[11] and suffering relegation.

In the following four seasons, Mel worked in the second level, being sacked early into 2005–06 by Polideportivo Ejido.[12] 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[13] and subsequently leading it to the fifth place, with chances of promotion until the last month of competition.[14]

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.[15] In the summer, he signed with former side Betis also in the second tier,[16] leading the Verdiblancos back to the top flight in his first year.[17]

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.[18]

West Bromwich Albion

On 9 January 2014, Mel signed an 18-month contract with West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League.[19] His first match in charge came 11 days later, a 1–1 home draw against Everton.[20]

Mel obtained his first win in English football after seven games, with a 2–1 victory at Swansea City on 15 March 2014.[21] 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.[22]

Return to Betis

Mel returned to former club Betis in December 2014, with a contract lasting until the end of the campaign.[23] He was the April 2015 Segunda División Manager of the Month after his team won all their games, scoring 11 goals and conceding two.[24] 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.[25]

Mel was fired on 11 January 2016, with his team in 15th place following a poor run of form and also strained relationship.[26]

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.[27][28] He was himself dismissed on 24 October, due to poor results.[29]

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.[30] On 23 January 2022, he was relieved of his duties.[31]

Málaga

On 21 September 2022, Mel joined Málaga CF also in the second division.[32] He was sacked the following 25 January 2023, with the club still in the relegation places.[33]

Outside football

Mel is also a novelist, having published three books, Liar, The Road to the Afterlife and The Test.[34]

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 [35]
Mérida Spain 30 June 2000 26 September 2000 4 3 1 0 10 4 +6 075.00 [36]
Murcia Spain 26 September 2000 27 June 2001 42 13 13 16 55 58 −3 030.95 [37]
Tenerife Spain 27 June 2001 18 February 2002 27 6 6 15 19 42 −23 022.22 [38]
Getafe Spain 21 January 2003 26 June 2003 23 8 8 7 26 28 −2 034.78 [39]
Alavés Spain 26 June 2003 30 June 2004 50 22 19 9 57 39 +18 044.00 [40]
Poli Ejido Spain 30 June 2004 14 November 2005 56 15 17 24 54 71 −17 026.79 [41]
Rayo Vallecano Spain 17 June 2006 15 February 2010 169 76 58 35 240 157 +83 044.97 [42]
Betis Spain 12 July 2010 2 December 2013 156 67 33 56 235 210 +25 042.95 [43]
West Bromwich Albion England 9 January 2014 12 May 2014 17 3 6 8 20 31 −11 017.65 [44]
Betis Spain 23 December 2014 11 January 2016 46 21 12 13 65 54 +11 045.65 [45]
Deportivo La Coruña Spain 27 February 2017 24 October 2017 24 6 7 11 27 40 −13 025.00 [46]
Las Palmas Spain 4 March 2019 23 January 2022 128 44 41 43 154 157 −3 034.38 [47]
Málaga Spain 21 September 2022 25 January 2023 20 3 10 7 16 20 −4 015.00 [48]
Total 806 314 241 251 1,056 950 +106 038.96 —

Honours

Player

Castellón

Manager

Rayo Vallecano

Betis

Individual

References
  1. Pepe Mel at WorldFootball.net
  2. Alcaide, Jesús (13 October 1985). "1–1: Balón de oxígeno para el Mallorca" [1–1: Oxygen balloon for Mallorca]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. "1–1: Balaídos dejó de ser inexpugnable" [1–1: Balaídos is no longer virgin territory]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 12 January 1987. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  4. "Renovó Mel y Vinyals se va al Oviedo" [Mel renewed and Vinyals goes to Oviedo]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 June 1989. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. Cabrera, A. (26 June 1989). "El Castellón puso la "guinda"" [Castellón "iced the cake"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  6. Román, Rogelio (12 May 1990). "Mel: "El Español se equivocó"" [Mel: "Español made a mistake"]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  7. "Racing: Se consumó la tragedia" [Racing: Tragedy consummated]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 28 May 1990. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  8. Ríos, Ricardo (3 September 1990). "Betis y Sporting, de poder a poder" [Betis and Sporting, from strength to strength]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. Alonso, Pedro Luis (20 September 2022). "Pepe Mel, una trayectoria consolidada: más de 600 partidos dirigidos entre Primera y Segunda" [Pepe Mel, solid career: in charge for more than 600 matches between Primera and Segunda]. Diario Sur (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  10. Bevia, Rafa. "Diez goleadores míticos de los 90 en Segunda División parte II" [Ten legendary scorers of the 90s in Segunda División part II] (in Spanish). Colgados por el Fútbol. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  11. "El Tenerife despide a Mel y ficha a Javier Clemente" [Tenerife fire Mel and sign Javier Clemente]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 February 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  12. "Pepe Mel, destituido como técnico del Poli Ejido" [Pepe Mel, dismissed as Poli Ejido's coach]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 14 November 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  13. "El Rayo vuelve a la División de Plata del fútbol español" [Rayo return to Silver Division of Spanish football]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 June 2008. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  14. Martín, M. (31 December 2009). ""Le pondría al Rayo un notable alto o un sobresaliente"" ["I would give Rayo a B plus or an A"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  15. "Pepe Mel, destituido como entrenador del Rayo Vallecano" [Pepe Mel, dismissed as Rayo Vallecano coach] (in Spanish). Globedia. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  16. "Pepe Mel, nuevo entrenador del Betis" [Pepe Mel, new manager of Betis]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 July 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  17. Torrecillas, Mercedes (27 May 2011). "Pepe Mel renueva con el Betis tres temporadas más" [Pepe Mel renews with Betis for three more seasons]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  18. Pineda, Rafael (2 December 2013). "El Betis echa a su héroe" [Betis sack their hero]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  19. "West Brom appoint Pepe Mel as their new head coach". BBC Sport. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  20. "West Bromwich Albion 1–1 Everton". BBC Sport. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  21. "Swansea 1–2 West Brom: Pepe Mel dedicates first win to 'kind' Baggies fans". BBC Sport. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  22. "Pepe Mel: West Bromwich Albion part company with manager". BBC Sport. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  23. "Mel, nuevo entrenador del Betis" [Mel, new Betis manager]. Marca (in Spanish). 20 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  24. "Pepe Mel wins April's Liga Adelante coach of the month award". La Liga. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  25. "Real Betis win promotion to Primera Division after Alcorcon victory". Sky Sports. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  26. "Pepe Mel: Real Betis sack manager after defeat at Getafe". BBC Sport. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  27. "Oficial: Pepe Mel, nuevo entrenador del Deportivo" [Official: Pepe Mel new Deportivo coach] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  28. "Pepe Mel: Deportivo La Coruna appoint new manager until end of season". BBC Sport. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  29. "RC Deportivo part ways with Pepe Mel". La Liga. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  30. "Pepe Mel is UD Las Palmas' new manager". UD Las Palmas. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  31. "Pepe Mel no continuará en el banquillo de la UD Las Palmas" [Pepe Mel will not continue in the bench of UD Las Palmas] (in Spanish). UD Las Palmas. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  32. "Pepe Mel named as new Málaga CF coach". Málaga CF. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  33. "Pepe Mel no proseguirá a cargo del equipo" [Pepe Mel will not continue in charge of the team] (in Spanish). Málaga CF. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  34. "Pepe Mel presenta "La prueba", su tercer libro, en Sevilla" [Pepe Mel presents "The test", his third book, in Seville]. ABC (in Spanish). 6 June 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  35. "Tercera División (Grupo 7) 1999–00" [Tercera División (Group 7) 1999–00] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
    "Fase de ascenso a Segunda División B 1999–00 (Grupo A1)" [Promotion phase to Segunda División B (Group A1) 1999–00] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  36. "Tercera División (Grupo 14) 2000–01" [Tercera División (Group 14) 2000–01] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  37. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  38. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  39. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
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  46. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
    "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  47. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
    "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
    "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
    "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  48. "Mel: José Mel Pérez". BDFutbol. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  49. "Los albinegros celebraron el último ascenso, a 1ª División, en la 88–89" [Black-and-white celebrated their last promotion, to 1st Division, in 88–89]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 21 June 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  50. "El Betis cierra la temporada como campeón de Segunda" [Betis close season as Segunda champions]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 4 June 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  51. Pineda, Rafael (25 May 2015). "El Betis sube a lo campeón" [Betis promote like a champion]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  52. Díaz, Pablo (19 October 2012). "Mel, rojillo invisible" [Mel, invisible red]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
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