Pepe Mel facts for kids
Mel in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 February 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Madrid, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.79 m | ||
| Playing position | 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) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 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 | ||
| 2023–2024 | OFI | ||
| 2024 | Almería | ||
| 2024 | Tenerife | ||
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José "Pepe" Mel Pérez, born on February 28, 1963, is a famous Spanish football player and manager. He used to play as a striker.
Pepe Mel played 215 games and scored 78 goals in the Segunda División (Spain's second-highest football league). He played for teams like Real Madrid Castilla, Castellón, and Betis. He also played in La Liga, which is Spain's top football league, with Betis.
In 1999, Mel started his career as a football manager. He has managed many teams, especially Rayo Vallecano and Betis. He helped Betis win the second-tier championship twice, in 2011 and 2015. He also managed teams in England and Greece.
Pepe Mel's Playing Career
Early Years and Top Teams
Pepe Mel was born in Madrid, Spain. He joined the Real Madrid youth team when he was 11 years old in 1974. He played alongside famous players like Emilio Butragueño. However, he only played for Real Madrid's reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla, not the main first team.
In 1987, he briefly played for CA Osasuna. Then, he moved to Castellón in the Segunda División. He played there for two years. He helped Castellón get promoted back to La Liga in his second season.
Time at Real Betis
Pepe Mel had his best years playing for Real Betis. He joined the team in 1989. In his first season, he helped them get promoted to La Liga. He also won the Pichichi Trophy that year, which is given to the top scorer in the league, with 22 goals.
The next year, he scored 14 goals in La Liga. However, Betis was relegated back to the second division. His first game in La Liga was on September 2, 1990. He scored a goal in a 2–2 draw against Sporting de Gijón.
Later Playing Career
After playing for Betis, Mel spent his last years playing in the Segunda División B (Spain's third-tier league). He also played a short time in France for Angers. He played for Granada, Benidorm, and Getafe. He retired from playing football at 35 years old. He played a total of 215 games and scored 78 goals in the Spanish second division.
Pepe Mel's Coaching Career
Starting Out and Rayo Vallecano
Pepe Mel started coaching just one year after he stopped playing. His first team was Coslada, an amateur club. In 2001, he managed Real Murcia in the second division. After that, he took over Tenerife in the top league. This was his first time coaching in La Liga, but the team was relegated.
For the next four seasons, Mel coached in the second division. In 2006, he joined Rayo Vallecano. He helped Rayo get promoted back to the second division in his second year. They even finished fifth in the league, almost getting promoted to La Liga.
Managing Real Betis
On February 15, 2010, Rayo Vallecano let Mel go after some bad results. Later that summer, he signed with his old team, Betis, who were also in the second division. He quickly led Betis back to the top league in his first year there.
In the 2012–13 season, Mel guided Betis to a seventh-place finish in La Liga. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Europa League, a big European competition. However, on December 2, 2013, he was fired. This happened after a big 4–0 loss to Sevilla and a late 2–2 draw against Rayo Vallecano.
Time in England with West Bromwich Albion
On January 9, 2014, Mel signed an 18-month contract with West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League in England. His first game was a 1–1 draw against Everton.
Mel got his first win in English football after seven games. They won 2–1 against Swansea City on March 15, 2014. On May 12, he left the club by agreement. He had led them to 17th place in the league, with three wins from 17 games.
Second Time at Betis
Mel returned to Betis in December 2014. He signed a contract until the end of the season. In April 2015, he was named the Segunda División Manager of the Month. His team won all their games that month, scoring 11 goals and only letting in two. On May 24, Betis won the league championship and got promoted to La Liga again.
However, Mel was fired on January 11, 2016. The team was in 15th place, and he had a difficult relationship with the club.
Deportivo La Coruña
On February 28, 2017, Mel became the manager of Deportivo de La Coruña. The team was struggling and close to the relegation zone. He was dismissed on October 24 due to poor results.
Las Palmas
Mel was appointed manager of Las Palmas on March 4, 2019. He signed a contract until the end of the season. On January 23, 2022, he was relieved of his duties.
Málaga
On September 21, 2022, Mel joined Málaga in the second division. He was sacked on January 25, 2023, as the club was still in the relegation spots.
OFI Crete
On December 14, 2023, Mel became the manager of OFI in Greece. He signed a contract until the end of the season. In February 2024, he left the club after only one win in 12 matches.
Almería
On March 13, 2024, Mel took over Almería in Spain's top league. He was their third coach that season. He achieved the team's only three wins in the league. However, Almería finished last, and he left on May 28 when his contract ended.
Return to Tenerife
On September 16, 2024, Mel returned to Tenerife for a one-year deal. He was fired on December 23 after only three wins in 16 matches, even though he had renewed his contract the month before.
Outside Football
Besides football, Pepe Mel is also a writer! He has published three books: Liar, The Road to the Afterlife, and The Test.
Honours
Player
Castellón
- Segunda División: 1988–89
Manager
Rayo Vallecano
- Segunda División B: 2007–08
Betis
- Segunda División: 2010–11, 2014–15
Individual
- Pichichi Trophy (Segunda División): 1989–90
- Segunda División Manager of the Month: April 2015
See also
In Spanish: Pepe Mel para niños
