Manuel Pellegrini expands his legend in Europe

Manuel Pellegrini made history with Betis. The Engineer had before him a new final in his career: the Copa del Rey. Thanks to penalties, after an intense match that ended 1-1, the team of the Chilean coach took victory. Thus, he was able to lift his first title in Spain. A country that had been elusive in terms of trophies.

A true gentleman of the finals who was able to expand both his legend and his coaching record yesterday. And it is that the record smiles on the national strategist, since, with this cup, he has reached 11 titles in his career and his tenth final. And at the time of definitions in these finals, their record is favorable. With this win, he got eight wins out of two losses.

Thus, in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, England and now in Spain, the national DT has left its mark. Only in China did not come out champion.

During this trip, the first title that the engineer won as a coach dates back to 1994. In that year, under the command of the Universidad Católica, he managed to win what is, to this day , the Crusaders’ only international title: the Inter-American Cup.

It will take four years for Pellegrini to lift a trophy again. At that time he was with the Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito, in the Ecuadorian league.

Two years later, in Argentina, his consecration would come with San Lorenzo. In the Argentine first division, when he came out first in the Clausura tournament (which was held in the first half of that year). Later, he won the extinct Copa Mercosur against Flamengo, Ciclón’s first continental crown.

With the new title came the turn to arrive at River Plate. In Buenos Aires, he won the 2003 Closing Tournament.

After their good performances in South America, Villarreal knocked on their door. There he stayed with the Intertoto Cup, a competition that served to access the old UEFA Cup. After passing through Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga, it was time to change countries. Thus, the Engineer found himself in the mighty Manchester City. With the citizen team, he won three titles. First, on March 2, 2014, they won the League Cup. That same year, it would be done with the Premier League. During the 2015-2016 season, the Engineer again won the Coupe de la Ligue.

Now, with the Betis King’s Cup in his pocket, the Engineer adds a new cup to his career in a country that has long been ungrateful to him when it comes to trophies. Now it is, with all law, a legend.

With the consecration, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo adds 22 titles to his list and equals Arturo Vidal as the most victorious Chilean. With the albos he won two, one in 2002, as a substitute, and the other in 2006, as a penalty shootout figure in the final against U. He then went to Real Sociedad , where he won the Spanish second division championship.

After a stellar performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Bravo was transferred to Barcelona, ​​where he will enjoy his best days. Unbeaten record at club level and eight titles. During his stay in Catalonia he won several competitions, but with more importance in the leagues, since the knockout tournaments were usually played by Marc-André ter Stegen.

Quite the opposite would happen at Manchester City. Although he was drafted as a starter, Bravo lost the job after an erratic 2016-17 season. Their last prize on British soil was the 2019-20 League Cup, where they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the final. Across all contests he has won eight crowns: two Premierships, three League Cups, two Community Shields and one FA.

Titles are not only at club level. The Viluco native was in charge of lifting the Copa América both times Chile won them: 2015 and 2016.