César Suárez
Manuel Pellegrini, the manager who ensures European qualification
REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo
With just three matchdays remaining, Real Betis is fighting for fifth place in LaLiga, a spot that grants entry to next season’s UEFA Champions League. It’s a huge prize for the green-and-white club, and they have Manuel Pellegrini at the helm—a manager who, just as he did at Villarreal, Málaga, and Real Madrid, serves as a safe passport to Europe.
The Chilean tactician, now 72, is set to complete his 15th season coaching in Spain. In only one of those campaigns—his first with Málaga, when he arrived after the season had already begun—did he fail to guide his team to European competitions. But every time he has been in charge from the first matchday to the last—14 full seasons—the continental objective has been achieved.
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**Pellegrini’s LaLiga Journey**
**Villarreal (2004/05 to 2008/09)**
The Chilean entered Spanish football in the 2004/05 season to take over Villarreal. In his first year, he led the club to third place, securing their first-ever Champions League qualification. The following season, after reaching the Champions League semifinals, they finished seventh in the league but earned a UEFA Cup spot by winning the Intertoto Cup. In 2006/07, he guided the Yellow Submarine to fifth place and another UEFA Cup berth. His greatest achievement came in 2007/08, when Villarreal finished runners-up and returned to the Champions League. His stint ended in 2008/09 with a fifth-place league finish and a place in the final UEFA Cup.
**Real Madrid (2009/10)**
His success earned him a move to Real Madrid, backed strongly by Jorge Valdano. Despite accumulating 96 points, Madrid finished second—still, a Champions League spot was guaranteed.
**Málaga (2010/11 to 2012/13)**
LaLiga’s “new rich,” backed by Sheikh Al Thani (whose ownership turned into a disaster that nearly bankrupted the Andalusian club), turned to Pellegrini to steer the ship after Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira had created chaos despite heavy investment. Pellegrini arrived in November and saved Málaga from relegation, finishing 11th. In the following two full seasons, he secured Champions League qualification in 2011/12 with a fourth-place finish, and in 2012/13, after reaching the Champions League quarterfinals, he placed sixth—good enough for the Europa League. Although UEFA banned Málaga from European competition due to debt and unpaid fees, Pellegrini had done his part. The city of Málaga honored him by naming a roundabout after him.
**Real Betis (2020/21 to Present)**
In his first season with Betis, he repeated sixth place and a Europa League spot. The second season was even better: fifth place and a Copa del Rey victory, securing Europa League qualification via both league and cup. The next season saw another sixth-place finish and continental football. In 2023/24, he had to settle for seventh place and a Conference League berth. Last season, after losing the Conference League final, Betis returned to sixth place in LaLiga and a Europa League spot.
Now, with another European ticket already guaranteed, the question is whether they will repeat in the second-tier competition or land the jackpot of Champions League. If they take five of the remaining nine points, they will rub shoulders with the elite.
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Mentions: Football, Manuel Pellegrini, LaLiga EA Sports, Champions League, Europa League, Copa del Rey, Conference League, Málaga CF, Villarreal CF, Real Madrid, Real Betis, Features
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