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.