Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez is targeting a 2026 European hat-trick for Spanish managers

Rayo Vallecano are gunning for a historic European title for the first time in the clubs history. They take on Crystal Palace in the UEFA Conference League final tonight, and manager Iñigo Perez is not only looking to bring the first international trophy to the cabinet in Vallecas, but also looking to do his part as Spanish managers have a chance to complete the European treble.

Emery lays groundwork

One of those managers has already held up his end of the deal. Unai Emery led Aston Villa to their first major European title since the early 1980s. The Villans finished in sixth place last year, grabbing the first of three Europa League spots in the Premier League. They would win seven of their eight group stage matches, finishing in second behind Olympique Lyon.

They beat Lille in the round of 16, and then smashed Bologna with a 7-1 aggregate to set up a semifinal tie with follow Premier League side Nottingham Forest. They had to overcome a 1-0 loss at City Ground, but beat Forest 4-0 at Villa Park to send them back to a European final for the first time since they won the European Cup back in 1982. Emery’s side beat Freiburg 3-0 to claim the title and lay the ground for a Spanish manger European treble.

Now it’s Iñigo Perez’s chance to take care of business in the UEFA Conference League. Perez has been the boss in Vallecas for the last two years, and after leading Rayo to an 8th placed finish in his debut campaign, he has his side one win away from their first ever European title. Of the three Spanish managers in the running for a European trophy he is the only one that is in charge of a Spanish Club.

Spain vs. Spain in UCL final

The other competition is guaranteed to be won by a Spanish boss. Two countrymen will be lining up on the touchline from Puskas Arena this weekend as Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta face off in the Champions League final. Mikel Arteta has a chance to lead Arsenal to their first European Cup while taking on a Spanish boss who has already won two Champions Leagues.

Luis Enrique is in the running for a back-to-back bid in the Champions League with PSG. The Parisians will be playing Arsenal this Saturday, May 30th and depending what happens from Leipzig tonight, either Arteta or Enrique could be wrapping up the hat trick over the weekend. As if Perez didn’t have enough pressure on his shoulders heading into the final tonight, a win is guaranteed to put him in the history books with Emery, and who ever wins on Saturday evening.

This would of course be an unprecedented feat in European soccer. UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League have been around for ages, but the UEFA Conference League was only inaugurated five years ago. If all three coaches were to win their respective competitions it would be the first time three coaches from the same country win all three European titles.

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