Manager Pepe Mel Gets the Sack from Real Betis for Second Time

Real Betis has fired manager Pepe Mel for the second time in the head coach’s career. The 52-year-old Mel, who has also been previously leading the team of West Brom, started his second spell at the position of head coach in charge of Real Betis in December 2014.

This is the second time he has been on top of Betis, having spent the period between February 2010 and December 2014 in charge of the Spanish club.

After suffering a 1-0 defeat by Getafe CF on January 9th, which left the club at the 15th position in La Liga table, Real Betis’ board has made the decision to give the club’s manager the sack once again. The Spanish football club published an official statement of its website on January 10th, saying that the services of head coach Pepe Mel have been greatly appreciated, and the club wished him all the best in his upcoming professional engagements.

The president of Real Betis Juan Carlos Ollero and the club’s sports director Eduardo Macia are now expected to hold a press conference in order to give an explanation on the manager’s departure.

The team’s president said in the club’s official Twitter account that the dismissal of Mel is certainly an “unpleasant moment” for him, as well as for the board and the entire club. Ollero also announced that a decision has been made by the board that appointed Juan Merino as an interim manager who would take temporary charge of the club’s first team. He explained that the club is doing everything possible in order to find a suitable replacement for Pepe Mel, but it was “too early” to discuss these matters publicly.

The head coach, known for his tactical skills, managed to bring back the team of Betis into La Liga after the team won the Segunda Deivision title in 2014/2015 season. However, the squad did not succeeded to win a top-flight game since November 2015, which resulted in them loosing four of their last five matches and slipping to within five points of the table relegation zone.

Mel has also been promoted over his first fixed period of work at Estadio Benito Villamarin and secured the qualification to the Europa League after the club finished at the seventh position in 2012/2013 campaign. The manager left Seville in December 2014 and then moved to the Premier League, by taking charge of West Bromwich. However, he lasted only four months at the club and moved to Real Betis once again.