Villarreal has 2 substitutes for Íñigo Pérez

Íñigo Pérez appears among the latest news of Villarreal CF as his continuity at the helm of the 'Yellow Submarine' begins to be questioned after a season start that is not meeting the board's expectations. Although the club still maintains its trust in the coach, two possible replacements for his position are starting to emerge: José Luis Mendilibar and Roberto Martínez, both currently without a team.

The coach's situation has become complicated after the recent draw against Elche (0-0) at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Villarreal also failed to defeat Real Madrid in the previous match, losing 1-0, and needs to improve its results in LaLiga.

The victory over Napoli (3-1) in the Champions League has given Pérez some breathing room, but the team's inconsistency in the national championship keeps the debate about his future open.

Iñigo Pérez's first training session at Villarreal CF has already started to address tactical aspects. https://t.co/nKjMm5i9JS

— CenafeBarcelona (@CenafeBarcelona) July 10, 2026

Íñigo Pérez loses credibility at Villarreal CF

The arrival of Íñigo Pérez to Villarreal's bench last summer raised expectations due to his footballing ideas and his ability to work with young players. However, the results in the early matchdays have not fully consolidated his project.

The coach has tried to find solutions through different systems. He started with a 4-4-2, then used a 4-2-3-1, and also employed a 4-3-3 to alter the offensive structure.

These changes have improved certain aspects of the game, especially with Alberto Moleiro in interior positions, but the team still struggles to maintain a consistent run of results.

The board led by Fernando Roig has not reached a final decision yet regarding the coach's future. However, another defeat could accelerate discussions about a possible replacement.

The situation gains importance due to Villarreal's participation in the Champions League, a competition that requires managing a squad subjected to two matches per week. Ernesto Valverde has also been rumored as a replacement for Íñigo Pérez.

José Luis Mendilibar and Roberto Martínez emerge as alternatives

One of the names beginning to be associated with the bench is José Luis Mendilibar, currently without a team after his stint at Olympiacos ended on September 10.

The Spanish coach won the 2024 Conference League with the Greek team, followed by adding the League, Cup, and Super Cup of Greece to his list of achievements. Additionally, he has experience in LaLiga from his time at Eibar, Sevilla, Osasuna, Valladolid, and Levante.

The second option would be Roberto Martínez, who left the Portugal national team after the 2026 World Cup. His contract expired in July, and he has not taken on a new project since then.

Martínez is also familiar with club football from his experiences at Swansea, Wigan, and Everton, although his recent trajectory has been focused on the national teams of Belgium and Portugal.

Another defeat could mark the end for Íñigo in Villarreal

Currently, there is no evidence of formal negotiations with either of the two coaches. Íñigo Pérez's next test will be on Tuesday, October 20, against Liverpool at Anfield. Subsequently, Villarreal will face Valencia on Saturday, October 24. These games will assess the team's response before the board decides to continue their support or seriously consider the options of José Luis Mendilibar and Roberto Martínez.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Villarreal tiene 2 sustitutos para Íñigo Pérez