Marcelino key to Villarreal's remarkable Champions League return

The next managerial appointment was critical, not just for the season but for the club's short-term future. In a bold move, they set aside past differences and brought back Marcelino Garcia Toral, a manager with a proven track record at the club. Time has shown this decision to be nothing short of inspired.

Last season, with Marcelino at the helm, Villarreal transformed from a side flirting with relegation to one pushing for European qualification. This season, however, has been the ultimate test of his influence.

Given control over squad planning and a full pre-season, Marcelino has guided Villarreal to a remarkable achievement: qualification for the UEFA Champions League. This success marks a stunning turnaround for a club that, after the trophy-laden Unai Emery era, had been slipping into a worrying decline.

Marcelino's history with Villarreal is one of consistent success across multiple spells. He first arrived midway through the 2012-13 season, when the club were reeling from a shock relegation to the Segunda Division and struggling to secure promotion. Marcelino steadied the ship, leading Villarreal back to La Liga at the first attempt.

The following year, despite their newly promoted status, he took them to the UEFA Europa League. The 2014-15 season saw them repeat the feat.

By the 2015-16 campaign, Villarreal were flying. They finished fourth in La Liga, securing a Champions League spot, and reached the Europa League semi-finals. However, tensions with the club's hierarchy led to Marcelino's departure that summer, leaving a bitter taste. "It was a difficult moment, but I always believed in the potential of this club," Marcelino said in a recent interview with Spanish outlet AS.

Now, in his second stint, the Asturian manager has silenced any doubters. Having enjoyed successful spells at Valencia and Athletic Bilbao in the interim, Marcelino returned to Villarreal with a point to prove. His impact has been immediate and profound. "This Champions League qualification is a reward for the hard work of the players and staff," he told Marca after securing their place. For Marcelino personally, it's a chance to right a wrong, as he never got to lead Villarreal in the competition during his first tenure.

For Villarreal, this qualification is more than a return to Europe's elite; it's a testament to their faith in a manager who knows the club inside out. As the Champions League awaits next season, Marcelino García Toral and Villarreal are ready to make their mark once more.