It's the end of an era at Villarreal CF. The Spanish club announced on Monday the departure of their coach, Marcelino García Toral, at the end of the season, despite remarkable sporting results. This decision also marks a turning point for Senegalese midfielder Pape Gueye, who arrived at the club under the guidance of the Spanish manager.

The two men had already worked together at Olympique de Marseille, and Marcelino had played a key role in Gueye's move to Spain. Their collaboration at Villarreal contributed to the club's rise to prominence, now firmly established in the top three of La Liga.

Having arrived in 2023, Marcelino leaves Villarreal on a high note. The team currently sits in 3rd place with 68 points and secured qualification for the next Champions League after a resounding 5-1 victory against Levante. The club praised this record in an official statement, thanking their coach for "his professionalism, commitment, and hard work."

At 60, the Spanish coach thus completes a second successful stint at the club, after a first experience between 2013 and 2016. With a total of 298 matches managed and 145 wins, he becomes the most influential coach in Villarreal's history.

In particular, he enabled the club to return to La Liga, reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and the Europa League, and above all to achieve two consecutive qualifications for the Champions League, a historic first.

Although the reasons for his departure have not been specified, Villarreal plans to pay tribute to Marcelino during the last day of La Liga against Atlético de Madrid, on May 24.

For Pape Guèye, as for the entire locker room, this departure opens a period of uncertainty.