1. Jose "Pepe" Mel Perez was born on 28 February 1963 and is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently a manager.
20 Facts About Pepe Mel
1. 2.
Pepe Mel amassed Segunda Division totals of 215 matches and 78 goals over eight seasons, for Real Madrid Castilla, Castellon and Betis.
3.
Pepe Mel played in La Liga with the last of those clubs.
4.
Pepe Mel worked in England with West Bromwich Albion and Greece with OFI, being dismissed five times throughout his career.
5.
Pepe Mel enjoyed his best years at Real Betis, signing with the Andalusia team in 1989 and helping them to achieve promotion in his debut campaign whilst winning the Pichichi Trophy with 22 goals, one better than in the previous season at Castellon.
6.
Pepe Mel retired at the age of 35, with a Spanish second division tally of 215 games and 78 goals.
7.
Pepe Mel started coaching one year after retiring, his first club being amateurs Coslada in the Community of Madrid.
8.
On 15 February 2010, after a string of poor results, Pepe Mel was dismissed by Rayo, being replaced by director of football Felipe Minambres who helped the side to the 11th position.
9.
On 9 January 2014, Pepe Mel signed an 18-month contract with West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League.
10.
Pepe Mel returned to former club Betis in December 2014, with a contract lasting until the end of the campaign.
11.
Pepe Mel was the April 2015 Segunda Division Manager of the Month after his team won all their games, scoring 11 goals and conceding two.
12.
Pepe Mel was fired on 11 January 2016, with his team in 15th place following a poor run of form and strained relationship.
13.
On 28 February 2017, Pepe Mel was appointed at Deportivo de La Coruna until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Gaizka Garitano at a team two points above the relegation zone in the top division and winless in the new year.
14.
Pepe Mel was named manager of Las Palmas on 4 March 2019, replacing Paco Herrera who had been fired earlier the same day, and signed a contract until the end of the season.
15.
On 21 September 2022, Pepe Mel joined Malaga in the second division.
16.
Pepe Mel was sacked the following 25 January 2023, with the club still in the relegation places.
17.
On 14 December 2023, Pepe Mel was appointed at OFI in the Super League Greece, signing a contract until the end of the campaign.
18.
On 13 March 2024, Pepe Mel took over Almeria back in his home country's top tier, becoming their third coach of the season after Vicente Moreno and Garitano.
19.
On 16 September 2024, Pepe Mel returned to Tenerife on a one-year deal, replacing the dismissed Oscar Cano.
20.
Pepe Mel is a novelist, having published three books, Liar, The Road to the Afterlife and The Test.