Quique Setien has said that he has left Villarreal with fond memories in a statement reacting to his dismissal from the La Liga club on Tuesday.
The 64-year-old took charge of the Yellow Submarine last October, and he guided the club to a fifth-placed finish in La Liga in 2022-23, securing a spot in the group stage of this season's Europa League.
However, Villarreal have lost three of their first four league games of this season, including a 3-1 reverse at Cadiz on Friday, which proved to be Setien's final match at the helm.
"Villarreal CF can announce that the head coach of the first team, Quique Setien, is leaving the club. The club highlights his great professionalism and commitment and appreciates both him and his coaching staff for having taken charge in a complicated situation last season," read a statement from the club on Tuesday.
"Under the coach from Cantabria, the team had a great season, promoting many youngsters from the youth academy and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League after reaching fifth place in LaLiga.
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"Villarreal CF would like to thank Setien for his work and involvement and wishes him the best of luck in his career. The club's director of football, Miguel Angel Tena, will take over on an interim basis."
Setien has now had his say on his time at Estadio de la Ceramica, thanking the club for the opportunity.
"It's never nice to be fired, but this is the profession I've chosen. On the causes, just and unjust, each one of us will interpret them as it suits us, so they do not matter. I always said that to do what you want you have to buy a club, and this is not mine," Setien said in a statement.
"The positive thing is that I have lived a new experience of life, of human relationships, of different behaviours, of emotions and of football and that is what will remain.
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"Now I think I am more prepared than a year ago and, if I have more opportunities again, everything will help us to do things better in the future.
"My goal is always to leave a good memory wherever I go and I am sure that I have achieved it, not for the successes or failures that have no owner, but for having worked honestly and treated well those who depended on me.
"I am grateful to Villarreal CF for giving me the opportunity to work for the club, and especially to all the employees who treated us on a day-to-day basis as if we were family."
Villarreal will be back in league action against Almeria on September 17 before beginning their Europa League group-stage campaign against Panathinaikos four days later.
Matt Law
