Pepe Reina Retires and Begins New Chapter as Villarreal Youth Coach

Pepe Reina has decided to retire from professional football after an amazing 26-year career. He’s now starting a new journey as the coach of Villarreal’s Under-19 team.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The 42-year-old goalkeeper announced his retirement before Como‘s final Serie A game of the season against Inter Milan. Reina said it was the right time to stop playing because he no longer felt excited or able to contribute fully. After his last game with Como, he will move to Villarreal to begin his coaching career with the U-19 team.

REINA’S INCREDIBLE CAREER

Reina started in Barcelona’s youth setup and made a name for himself at Villarreal, helping them reach the Champions League for the first time. At Liverpool, he became a club legend, playing nearly 400 times and winning the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. He also played for Bayern Munich, Napoli, AC Milan, Lazio, and Aston Villa before returning to Villarreal and then moving to Como. Internationally, he earned 36 caps for Spain and was part of the teams that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR REINA AND VILLARREAL?

Reina is now moving into coaching and will lead Villarreal’s Juvenil A team, helping develop young talents. Villarreal’s main team finished 8th in La Liga, just missing out on European competitions. The U-19 squad will benefit from Reina’s experience. Como finished their Serie A season well, ending in the middle of the table under manager Cesc Fàbregas. Reina’s coaching journey is starting right away as Villarreal prepares for next season in Spanish youth football.