What happened: Fabrizio Romano reports Villarreal are waiting for Iñigo Pérez to become their next head coach after the club qualified for next season's Champions League. Pérez is described as the clear favorite and ready to take over, but he wants to keep his focus on Rayo Vallecano out of respect until their European campaign is finished. The move would follow Marcelino García Toral's announced exit at the end of the season.

Why it matters: This is a significant offseason decision for Villarreal because the club has already locked up Champions League football, so the next coach will shape summer planning and the return to Europe. The timing also matters for Rayo Vallecano's Conference League final against Crystal Palace, with Pérez still leading a historic run before any switch is finalized.

What to watch: Watch for a formal Villarreal announcement once Rayo's Conference League final is complete. The remaining key dates are Rayo's final against Crystal Palace and Villarreal's end-of-season league run.