Real Betis appoint Pellegrini as new manager for next season

Seville, Spain, Jul 9 (efe-epa).- Spanish LaLiga team Real Betis on Thursday announced Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager.

The team has underperformed in the 2019/20 season but managed to mathematically avoid relegation with a 3-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday evening.

Former manager Rubi was sacked on 21 June.

Pellegrini has managed teams around the world, from his native Chile — where he began his career as a footballer for Universidad de Chile — to Spain and England, where he won the Premier League and the League Cup with Manchester City.

In Spain he has previously managed Villareal, securing a second and third place finish in the league and taking the team as far as the semi-finals in the Uefa Champions League in 2006.

He has also managed Real Madrid.

Pellegrini also had a stint with Chinese side Hebei Chinese Fortune.

The Chilean managed West Ham United during the 2018/19 season but was replaced by David Moyes following a string of defeats.

Real Betis, which is based in the southern Spanish city of Seville, said Pellegrini has signed a contract until 2023.

Alexis Trujillo, the caretaker manager who will stay on until the end of this season, said: “We believe Pellegrini is a coach with a character of a born winner.