Pepe Mel Biography

His full name is Jose Pepe Mel Perez, was born in Madrid in February 28, 1963. He is former football player and current football coach of Real Betis.

Pepe Mel playing career:

Mel started his playing career when he was 11 years old at Real Madrid C, joining youth team of Real Madrid in 1974.Mel played alongside the likes of Michel and Emilio Butragueno so he never played in the first division.

In 1987 he moved to CD Castekllon in the Sekunda Division, after brief spell with CA Osasuna, playing two years and helping the Valencian Community to return to La Liga after their absence for seven years.

In 1989 he joined Real Betis and helped them to promote and win personally the Pichichi Trophy with 22 goals. The next year Mel played first and only season in top level scoring 14 goals but the team relegated again immediately.

Mel played the rest of his playing career in the third division, playing in his country Spain then France, where he played with Granada CF, Benidorm CF, and Getafe CF, then Angers SCO, and Ecija Balompie.

Mel retired at the age of 35 years old where he played 195 games and scoring 73 goals.

Managerial career of Pepe Mel:

Mel started his coaching career, after one year of his retiring of playing, in his fist team CD Coslada.

After one year at Real Murcia in 2001 Mel Replaced Valencia CF- Bound Rafael Benetiz with CD Tenerife, where Mel has his first spell as coach in the top flight but suffering relegation . Mel after four seasons was sacked by Polideportivo Ejido in 2005-06 to move then to Rayo Vallecano leading them in his second season to return to the second season in the fifth place.

Mel was sacked in February 15, 2010 after poor results by Rayo to sign with his former team Real Betis leading them to return to the top division in his first year.