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By Zach Lowy

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When Pellegrini took charge, Real Betis were coming off a dismal run of form that had seen them finish 10th and 15th – a mere five points above the relegation zone in 2019/20. But despite not spending a dime in the transfer market, Pellegrini immediately breathed new life into the Andalusian outfit, spearheading Betis to a sixth-place finish in LaLiga before leading them to a fifth-place finish in 2021/22. The cherry on top came in the Copa del Rey Final, with Betis edging Valencia on penalties to secure their first trophy in 17 years.

“The Betis that Pellegrini took over bears no resemblance to the Betis of today – it was a team that hadn’t consistently qualified for Europe for quite some time,” stated AS’ Chief Editor of International Football Aritz Gabilondo. “Pellegrini brought a sense of stability and normalcy to the project, qualities that have ultimately ushered in one of the finest eras in the club’s history.”

“He has always championed talented players: signings such as Giovani Lo Celso, Isco, and Antony were made specifically to address that, even the signing of Marc Bartra in defence. It was this commitment to playing attractive football that gave rise to the visually appealing and victorious Betis side we see today. While other clubs were constantly shifting their philosophies and rotating managers, Betis remained steadfastly loyal to Pellegrini and his vision. They never wavered in their support for the Chilean manager; they placed their complete trust in him.”

Betis have lived in a perpetual cycle of rebuilding their squad, cashing in on starters such as Chadi Riad and Luiz Felipe for top dollar, and phasing out veteran leaders like Joaquín and Andrés Guardado. But they have nevertheless remained in LaLiga’s upper echelon thanks to Pellegrini’s stable hand, with the Verdiblancos finishing sixth, seventh, and sixth, as well as reaching their maiden European final.

After relinquishing an early lead and losing 4-1 to Chelsea in the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League Final, Betis have churned that disappointment into motivation, challenging on all fronts and reaching the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey and Europa League. They’ve hit their stride in LaLiga as well, embarking on a seven-match unbeaten run before finally losing at champions Barcelona at the weekend – a defeat that was ultimately meaningless given that Betis had already secured their fifth-place finish.

As someone who has won major silverware in Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, England, and Spain, it’s easy to boil down Pellegrini’s coaching feats to his trophy cabinet. But he’s achieved so much more than that – he’s instilled his tactical DNA in every single place he’s landed, including world-renowned clubs like Real Madrid, River Plate, and Manchester City. A qualified civil engineer, Pellegrini bridged his playing and coaching careers by aiding the rebuilding effort in his native Chile after the 1985 Algarrobo earthquake killed 177 people and left around a million homeless. Throughout his 37 years in management, ‘El Ingeniero’ has been able to pick up the pieces and regenerate teams from the ground up, giving them a foundation that’s built to last the test of time.

This means finding players who fit the requirements to execute his style of football, and it also means tweaking his system around his squad’s strengths. Whereas Betis had previously enjoyed success under Pellegrini by packing the midfield with technically gifted attacking midfielders such as Nabil Fekir and Sergio Canales, they’ve pivoted to a more transition-oriented approach this season, one that is predicated upon their winger duo, Antony and Abde Ezzalzoui. Whilst they’re no longer dictating possession as frequently, they’ve reaped the benefits in defence, going from seven clean sheets and 51.6 xG conceded in 2024/25 to 10 clean sheets and 51.6 xG conceded in 2025/26.

“Up until now, Betis wasn’t quite the flank-oriented team that it has become this season; previously, they controlled matches more effectively through possession, passing combinations, and a more cohesive build-up,” stated Betis fan Joel Sierra. “However, this season has become the Abde and Antony show. While this has yielded far greater attacking punch in transition, the team has struggled to manage the flow of matches and dominate play.”

“This is the major shift in Pellegrini’s approach since his early days at Betis: they have evolved into a team that relies heavily on the flanks and depends on two transition specialists who possess a somewhat individualistic streak and who exploit open spaces magnificently. The team has lost much of its ability to play through the middle, and key concepts such as defending with the ball, building play from the back, or simply being able to establish themselves in the opposition’s half and retain possession for extended periods.”

Whereas teams like Valencia, Girona, and Sevilla have oscillated from Champions League nights to relegation fights over the past decade, Betis have stayed the course under Pellegrini, proving that slow and steady wins the race. Having previously played in Europe on just 10 occasions in their entire history, Betis have since qualified for Europe in six successive seasons. In contrast to their upcoming opponents, Levante, who are vying to stave off relegation, Betis will be using the final day of the league season as an opportunity to celebrate their momentous achievement in front of their home support. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be bidding farewell to the man who delivered them to the promised land.

When Pellegrini extended his Betis contract through 2028 in November, he made sure to include an exit clause that allows him to leave to manage the Chilean national team. Whilst he has coached 15 clubs in three different continents, his sole international adventure came in 1991 as the manager of Chile’s U20s. At nearly 73 years old, Pellegrini is well aware that time is not on his side, and after watching La Roja finish bottom of their qualifying group and miss out on a third-straight World Cup, he may be compelled to return to his homeland.

It remains to be seen whether Pellegrini will oversee Betis’ first Champions League match since 2005 or decide to take the reins at Chile, but one thing’s for sure: when he does leave, he will do so as Betis’ greatest-ever manager.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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