Former player and coach Pepe Mel has undergone a successful operation in Seville after suffering a stroke. The 63-year-old, who is closely associated with Real Betis, had the procedure on Sunday, the club confirmed on Monday.
"Pepe Mel suffered a cerebrovascular accident on Sunday from which he was operated on successfully in Seville," Real Betis said in a statement.
Mel, who was without a club after managing Morocco's Ittihad Tanger from December 2025 to March of this year, has a long history in Spanish football. As a striker, he was the top scorer in the Segunda División in the 1989-90 season while playing for Betis. After retiring, he managed around ten clubs, including two spells in charge of Betis, as well as sides like Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo de La Coruña, Málaga and Almería. He is also the author of several novels.
The news comes during a busy period for football in Seville. Sevilla FC, who sit sixth in La Liga with 17 points, face Alaves at home in their next match on Friday. The team is coming off a 3-1 defeat to Getafe last Saturday, a result that complicates their push for European qualification. With a record of five wins, two draws and four losses, Sevilla will look to get back on track in their upcoming fixture after an inconsistent start to the campaign. Their recent form, with just two wins in their last five matches, and their need to improve in attack, where they have taken an average of 78 minutes to score this season, are key factors for their next challenge. In the previous match, the team did secure a clear 0-3 victory over Hortaleza, with goals from R. Ure, Peque from the penalty spot and R. Vargas. The Seville side, which has scored 17 goals and conceded 19, finds itself 13 points behind leaders Barcelona and needs to find consistency, especially against an Alaves side sitting 11th in the table.
Pepe Mel's recovery will be closely monitored by the Betis faithful and the wider Andalusian football community in the coming days.
The report in full is at El Mundo Deportes
