Rayo Vallecano appoints Beñat San José as new head coach
Rayo Vallecano has appointed Beñat San José as head coach, paying Eibar a €400,000 release clause. The 46-year-old Basque coach, who has managed clubs across South America, the Middle East, Belgium, and Mexico, replaces Íñigo Pérez (who left for Villarreal). San José aims to build on Rayo’s recent success—two eighth-place La Liga finishes and a Conference League final appearance—by instilling a proactive, attacking style reflecting Vallecas’ working-class values.
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Beñat San José Presented as New Rayo Vallecano Coach, Vows to Leave His Mark
Rayo Vallecano officially presented Beñat San José as their new head coach on June 18, 2026, at a press conference alongside club president Martín Presa. Presa expressed excitement about the new era, noting that the decision was delayed due to strong candidate quality. San José, who previously coached Eibar in Segunda División, stated he feels deeply identified with the club's working-class values and vowed to implement a proactive, attacking style focused on quick ball recovery and fan pride. He acknowledged the success of predecessor Iñigo and the challenge of following a highly successful period, but emphasized he brings his own identity. San José described his first goals as improving players, making Vallecas a fortress, and ensuring fans feel proud. This marks his debut as a Primera División manager, drawing on experience from Segunda and abroad.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaBeñat San José Presented as New Rayo Vallecano Coach, Vows to Leave His Mark
Beñat San José was officially presented as the new head coach of Rayo Vallecano on June 18, 2026, alongside club president Martín Presa. San José expressed pride in joining the club, citing alignment with its values and working-class identity. He outlined a proactive playing style focused on quick ball recovery and attacking football. The Basque coach acknowledged the successful tenure of his predecessor Iñigo but emphasized he will bring his own approach. San José, who previously coached in Segunda and abroad, said he feels prepared for his first La Liga role. President Presa noted the selection process was lengthy due to many strong candidates but expressed excitement for the new era.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaBeñat San José Introduced as New Rayo Vallecano Coach: 'I Come With My Style'
Beñat San José was officially presented as the new head coach of Rayo Vallecano on June 18, 2026, accompanied by club president Martín Presa. In his inaugural press conference, San José expressed immense pride in joining the club, citing its working-class values and resilient identity. He outlined a proactive, attacking style focused on quick ball recovery and creating scoring opportunities. The Basque coach acknowledged the challenges of succeeding the successful tenure of Iñigo Pérez but emphasized his own distinct vision and commitment to evolving the squad. He also addressed the difficult decision to leave Eibar and stated he feels prepared for his first La Liga experience after learning in Segunda División.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaRayo Vallecano appoints Beñat San José as new head coach
Rayo Vallecano, the La Liga club that finished 8th last season and were runners-up in the UEFA Conference League (losing 0-1 to Crystal Palace), have appointed Spanish coach Beñat San José as their new manager. The 46-year-old Basque replaces Iñigo Pérez, who left to take over at Villarreal following Marcelino's departure. San José brings an unusual career path, having coached extensively in South America (Chile, Bolivia), the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE), and other countries including Belgium and Mexico, but this marks his first major European league role. He arrives from Spanish second-division side Eibar. The club hopes San José can stabilize the team in the top half of the standings, with French defender Florian Lejeune among the squad.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footRayo Vallecano Appoints Benat San José as New Head Coach
Rayo Vallecano, the Spanish La Liga club that finished 8th last season and were runners-up in the UEFA Conference League (losing 0-1 to Crystal Palace), have appointed 46-year-old Basque coach Benat San José as their new manager. San José, who previously coached Eibar in the Spanish second division, replaces Inigo Pérez, who left to take over at Villarreal following Marcelino's departure. San José brings an unconventional background, having coached extensively in South America (Chile, Bolivia, Mexico) and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE), as well as in Belgium. This marks his first appointment in a major European league. He will aim to stabilize Rayo Vallecano, which features French defender Florian Lejeune, in the top half of the La Liga table.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuRayo Vallecano Appoints Benat San José as New Head Coach
Rayo Vallecano has appointed Benat San José, a 46-year-old Basque coach with extensive international experience, as their new head coach. San José, who most recently coached Eibar in the Spanish second division, replaces Iñigo Pérez, who left to manage Villarreal. Rayo Vallecano finished 8th in La Liga last season and were runners-up in the UEFA Conference League, losing 0-1 to Crystal Palace after eliminating Strasbourg in the semi-finals. San José's career has taken him across South America and the Middle East, including stints in Saudi Arabia (Al-Ittihad, Al-Ettifaq), Chile (Deportes Antofagasta, Universidad Católica), Bolivia (Club Bolívar), the United Arab Emirates (Al Nasr Dubai), Belgium (Eupen), and Mexico (Mazatlán, Atlas). This marks his first appointment in a major European championship. He will aim to stabilize Rayo in the top half of La Liga, alongside French defender Florian Lejeune.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footRayo Vallecano Appoints Beñat San José as New Head Coach
Rayo Vallecano has officially appointed Beñat San José as the club's new head coach, as announced on June 18. San José, born in San Sebastián, Spain in 1979, began his coaching career in Real Sociedad's youth system. He has since managed clubs across multiple continents, including Al-Ittihad (winning the 2013 Saudi King's Cup), Al-Ettifaq, Deportes Antofagasta (achieving the club's best league finish), Club Bolívar (winning the 2017 Bolivian double), Universidad Católica (winning the 2018 Chilean Primera División), Al-Nasr, KAS Eupen (reaching the Belgian Cup semi-finals and best league finish), Mazatlán, and Atlas. He returned to Club Bolívar in 2022, winning the 2023 Bolivian league title and reaching the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. Most recently, he coached SD Eibar in La Liga 2 from February 2025, leading them in 60 official matches before his move to Rayo Vallecano.
虎扑 - 足球Beñat San José: 'I don't have vertigo, but I do have responsibility'
Beñat San José has been appointed as the new head coach of Rayo Vallecano, replacing Íñigo Pérez who left for Villarreal after leading the team to three La Liga stays, two eighth-place finishes, and a Conference League final. In his introductory press conference, San José emphasized his sense of responsibility rather than fear, stating he wants the team to represent the working-class, hardworking, and resilient values of the Vallecas neighborhood. He outlined a proactive playing style focused on quick ball recovery and attacking football. San José brings extensive international experience from clubs in Saudi Arabia, Chile, Bolivia, UAE, Belgium, Mexico, and Spain's second division with Eibar. He acknowledged Pérez's legacy and expressed his goal to make the club better and the fans proud, emphasizing that Vallecas must be a fortress.
FútbolRayo Vallecano Appoints Beñat San José as New Coach, Pays Eibar Release Clause
Rayo Vallecano has decided to appoint Beñat San José as their new head coach, paying Eibar a 400,000 euro release clause. The Madrid club had been negotiating with Jagoba Arrasate and reached a verbal agreement, but president Raúl Martín Presa never formalized the contract. Instead, the club was attracted to Beñat's football philosophy and playing style, leading to the decisive move in recent hours. This will be Beñat San José's first experience in LaLiga EA Sports. The 46-year-old coach, trained in Real Sociedad's youth system, has spent most of his career abroad, coaching clubs such as Al-Ittihad, Al-Ettifaq, Antofagasta, Bolívar, Universidad Católica, Al-Nasr, KAS Eupen, Mazatlán, and Atlas, before joining Eibar in February 2025.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaRayo Vallecano Appoints Beñat San José as New Head Coach, Pays Eibar Release Clause
Rayo Vallecano has decided to appoint Beñat San José as their new head coach, paying Eibar a 400,000 euro release clause. The Madrid club had been in prolonged negotiations with Jagoba Arrasate, with whom a verbal agreement was reached, but president Raúl Martín Presa never formalized the contract. Ultimately, the club was swayed by Beñat's football philosophy and playing style. This will be the 46-year-old coach's first experience in LaLiga EA Sports. Beñat, trained in Real Sociedad's youth system, has spent most of his career abroad, coaching clubs in Saudi Arabia, Chile, Bolivia, Belgium, Mexico, and others, before joining Eibar in February 2025.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaRayo Vallecano appoints Beñat San José as new coach, paying Eibar release clause
Rayo Vallecano has appointed Beñat San José as its new head coach, surprising the club after long negotiations with Jagoba Arrasate. The Madrid club will pay Eibar the 400,000 euro release clause to secure San José, who is 46 years old and trained in Real Sociedad's youth system. San José has spent most of his career abroad, coaching clubs such as Al-Ittihad, Al-Ettifaq, Antofagasta, Bolívar, Universidad Católica, Al-Nasr, KAS Eupen, Mazatlán, and Atlas before arriving at Eibar in February 2025. Rayo's president Raúl Martín Presa ultimately decided on San José due to his attractive football philosophy and playing style, despite having a verbal agreement with Arrasate. This will be San José's first experience managing in LaLiga EA Sports. The article was published by Marca on June 17, 2026.
LALIGA EA Sports // marca