Pepe Mel

Mel in 2011
Personal information
Full name	José Mel Pérez
Date of birth	(1963-02-28) 28 February 1963 (age 49)
Place of birth	Madrid, Spain
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Betis (coach)
Youth career
1974–1982	Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1982–1983	Real Madrid C
1983–1987	Real Madrid B	71	(15)
1983–1984	→ Alcalá (loan)
1987	Osasuna	0	(0)
1987–1989	Castellón	62	(28)
1989–1993	Betis	112	(50)
1993–1995	Granada	65	(31)
1995–1996	Benidorm	31	(15)
1996–1997	Getafe	37	(17)
1997–1998	Écija
1998	Angers
Teams managed
1999–2000	Coslada
2000–2001	Murcia
2001–2002	Tenerife
2003	Getafe
2003–2004	Alavés
2004–2005	Ejido
2006–2010	Rayo Vallecano
2010–	Betis
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

José "Pepe" Mel Pérez (born 28 February 1963 in Madrid) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker, and the current manager of Real Betis.

Playing career[link]

Mel started his senior career at Real Madrid Castilla - joining Real Madrid's youth system at the age of 11, in 1974, he never represented however the first team - playing alongside the likes of Emilio Butragueño and Míchel. In 1987, after a very brief spell with CA Osasuna (he did make his official debuts), he moved to Segunda División with CD Castellón, where he played two years, helping the Valencian Community side return to La Liga in his second season, after an absence of seven years.

Mel enjoyed his best years at Real Betis, signing with the team in 1989, and helping the Andalusians promote in his debut campaign, whilst winning the Pichichi Trophy with 22 goals (one better than in the previous season, at Castellón). In the following year, he played his first – and only – season in the top level, scoring 14 times but once again suffering immediate relegation.

Mel played his remaining years in the third division, in his country but also in France, successively representing Granada CF (two years), Benidorm CF and Getafe CF, splitting his final season with Angers SCO and Écija Balompié and retiring at the age of 35, amassing Spanish second division totals of 195 games and 73 goals.

Manager career[link]

Mel started coaching one year after retiring, his first club being amateurs CD Coslada, in the Community of Madrid. After one year at Real Murcia in division two, in 2001, he replaced Valencia CF-bound Rafael Benítez at the helm of CD Tenerife, having his first spell in the top flight as a coach,^[1] and suffering relegation.

In the following four seasons, Mel worked in the second level, being sacked early into the 2005–06 season by Polideportivo Ejido.^[2] Shortly after, he dropped down a level and moved to Rayo Vallecano, helping the Madrid outfit return to the second division in his second year, subsequently leading the side to the fifth place, with chances of promotion until the very last month of competition.

On 15 February 2010, after a string of poor results, Mel was sacked by Rayo, being replaced by director of football Felipe Miñambres, who helped the club to the 11th place.^[3] In the summer, he signed with former side Betis, also in the "silver category",^[4] leading the Verdiblancos back to the top division in his first year.

References[link]

External links[link]

• BDFutbol player profile
• BDFutbol coach profile
• Transfermarkt profile
• Worldfootball profile

Miquel "Miki" Roqué Farrero (born 8 July 1988 in Tremp, Lleida, Catalonia) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Real Betis. Mainly a central defender, he can also appear as a defensive midfielder.

Football career[link]

At only 17, Roqué was signed from local side UE Lleida by Liverpool, managed by countryman Rafael Benítez.^[1] He came on as a substitute in both legs of the 2006 FA Youth Cup Final against Manchester City, and made his first-team debut in the 2006–07 UEFA Champions League against Galatasaray SK on 5 December 2006 - also coming from the bench, replacing another Spaniard, Xabi Alonso - in a 2–3 away loss.^[2]

Roqué spent the end of the 2006–07 season on loan at Oldham Athletic in League One,^[3] appearing rarely for the Latics as the club finished in sixth position. In the following two years, still in that predicament, he played in his country, with very different fates: in 2007–08, he only appeared once for second division side Xerez CD. In the following season, he was much more used by FC Cartagena, helping the Murcian club promote from level three.^[4]

On 16 June 2009, Liverpool released Roqué after a four-year stay. He returned to Spain and joined Real Betis' reserves the following month.^[5] In the 2010–11 season, he started appearing with the main squad.

On 5 March 2011, after undergoing a routine check-up due to back problems, Roqué was diagnosed with pelvic cancer,^[6][7] undergoing surgery to excise a malignant tumor the following day. The club sought to help the player raise funds to pay for treatment by the sale of wrist-bands to fans.^[8]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Betis official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Futbolme profile (Spanish)
• Miki Roqué career stats at Soccerbase
• Transfermarkt profile