The legendary goalkeeper bids farewell to the club after almost 200 games
Villarreal CF and Pepe Reina have parted ways after 191 games played in the almost five seasons that the legendary goalkeeper played during his two spells at the club. The first of these, between 2002/03 and 2004/05, was full of great successes such as winning two Intertoto Cups and the historic qualification for the UEFA Champions League. The second and most recent, comprising the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, marked by the return to his home, Vila-real, where he will always be remembered as a legend.
Here are his best moments:
- Signing for Villarreal
Pepe Reina signed for Villarreal at the age of 20 from FC Barcelona. Despite his limited experience in the top flight of Spanish football, the Cordoba-born goalkeeper soon became a key player for the Yellow Submarine, who at the time were making their first steps in the top flight and on the European scene.
- The two Intertoto Cups
Reina was part of the club’s first European successes: winning two Intertoto Cups. The first of these came in the 2002/03 season, after beating Heerenveen in the final, and the second, a season later, after defeating Atlético de Madrid at the Vicente Calderón.
- Historic qualification for the UEFA Champions League
As well as winning two Intertoto Cups with Villarreal CF, Pepe Reina was a fundamental pillar of the team that, in the 2004/05 season, qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. The team coached by Manuel Pellegrini finished the domestic championship in third place. On a personal level, Pepe Reina saved seven of the nine penalties he was awarded that season.
- Returning home 17 years later
After an extensive and successful career with some of the most prestigious clubs on the continent such as Liverpool, Bayern or Napoli, at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, Villarreal made official the return of Pepe Reina 17 years later. That same season, Reina had to take on a starring role following the departure of Gero Rulli. The Spanish international more than delivered after pulling on the yellow shirt 32 times.
- 1000 matches in his career
The goalkeeper made his 1000th professional appearance in the Villarreal vs Cádiz match of the 2022/23 season. The club showed their affection for the goalkeeper in the run-up to the match by displaying a spectacular banner in the stadium’s first preference area, showing, along with a photo of him, the number of games played in his successful career.
- Heroic performance against Stade Rennais
One of Reina’s most memorable moments during his second spell at the club was undoubtedly the penalty he saved against Stade Rennais on the second day of the UEFA Europa League group stage. This action, decisive for the three points, coincided with the match in which he broke the record for most appearances by a Spanish player in Europe.
