Rayo Vallecano accelerates the search for a new coach following the departure of Íñigo Pérez to Villarreal. Among the names analyzed by the Franjirroja board, Galician Rubén Albés gains strength as a concrete option to take over Vallecas’ bench.
Albés, 41 years old, is experiencing a prominent moment in international football. Since February 2026, he has managed Umm Salal, in the Qatari league, after impressive spells at Spanish clubs such as Albacete and Sporting de Gijón. His recent experience in the Middle East adds to his in-depth knowledge of Spanish Second and First Division football.
Jagoba Arrasate remains in contention
In addition to Albés, Rayo is holding advanced talks with Jagoba Arrasate, former coach of Osasuna and Mallorca. The club has already held meetings with both professionals and intends to define Íñigo Pérez’s successor this week, with the aim of starting the pre-season with the project defined.
Íñigo Pérez’s departure represented a blow for Rayo. The coach, who led the team to the Conference League final, signed a three-year contract with Villarreal, where he replaces Marcelino García Toral. The change occurred in the midst of a positive season for the Vallecas club, which now needs to rebuild the technical command.
What Albés can bring to Rayo
Rubén Albés built a reputation as a pragmatic coach with good tactical reading, characteristics valued by Rayo’s board. His time at Albacete showed his ability to get the most out of financially limited squads — a profile that fits the Madrid club’s economic reality. In Qatar, he took over Umm Salal in a delicate situation and has already accumulated experience in high-level competitions.
The choice of a new coach gains urgency because Rayo Vallecano plans to reinforce the squad for the next LaLiga season and, possibly, for European competitions. A name with proven experience in Spain, like Albés, can speed up the group’s adaptation.
