Age, Biography, and Wiki
Manuel Pellegrini is currently 71 years old. His career began as a center back for Universidad de Chile, where he played from 1973 to 1986. He transitioned into coaching in 1988, starting with Universidad de Chile. Pellegrini's managerial career has been marked by significant successes, including winning the Premier League with Manchester City and managing clubs like Real Madrid and Malaga.
| Occupation | Footballer |
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| Date of Birth | 16 September 1953 |
| Age | 71 Years |
| Birth Place | Santiago, Chile |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Chile |
Height, Weight & Measurements
There is limited public information available about Manuel Pellegrini's height and weight. However, it is known that he is a former professional footballer turned manager.
| Height | 1.84 m |
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Dating & Relationship Status
Pellegrini is married to Carola Pucci, and they have three children together. His personal life is relatively private, with little information available beyond his family commitments.
Born in Santiago, to Italian parents, Pellegrini attended the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, where he graduated in civil engineering in 1979. He started his formative years as a footballer in the youth divisions of Audax Italiano. Then he went to Club Universidad de Chile where he would play professionally for them as a defender. He spent his entire playing career with the club, making a total of 451 appearances and scoring seven goals in the Chilean Division 1, including one goal against Colo-Colo, Universidad de Chile's biggest rival.
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Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Manuel Pellegrini's estimated annual salary is approximately $6 million, with some sources suggesting his net worth could be as high as $21.3 million. However, other reports indicate it might be around $20 million.
At the end of 2007, Villarreal offered Pellegrini an extended contract until 2011. On 31 May 2009, after the last La Liga match for Villarreal, Pellegrini said: "Nobody from Real Madrid has spoken with me. I have a contract with Villarreal, we finished the league today, and tomorrow we go on holiday", after being questioned by the press on rumours that he was in talks with Madrid. On 1 June 2009, a Villarreal executive announced that Pellegrini would no longer continue at the club. The Valencian club executive specified that if Real Madrid wanted to sign the Chilean coach, they would have to pay Pellegrini's €4 million termination clause.
Career, Business, and Investments
Pellegrini's managerial career has spanned several continents, with notable stints in South America and Europe. He has managed clubs like:
- Universidad de Chile: Began his managerial career here.
- San Lorenzo: Won the Copa Mercosur.
- River Plate: Managed the Argentine giants.
- Villarreal: Achieved success in Spain.
- Real Madrid: Managed the Spanish giants.
- Manchester City: Won the Premier League.
- Malaga: Led the team to a Champions League quarterfinal.
Pellegrini's consistent record at Villarreal attracted the attention of Real Madrid and he was appointed manager there in 2009. He amassed a total of 96 points, a club record until it was surpassed by José Mourinho in the 2011–12 season, but lost the title to Barcelona by three points. He was dismissed after one season and later lamented the Galácticos policy employed at Real, which prevented him from building a balanced team.
Pellegrini took up the manager's role at Málaga in November 2010. He led Málaga to a fourth-place finish in his first full season and to qualification for the UEFA Champions League. He made it to the quarter-finals of the 2012–13 Champions League, becoming the only coach to take two teams to the Champions League quarter-finals in their debut seasons in the competition. On 22 May 2013, Pellegrini confirmed he would leave Málaga at the end of the 2012–13 La Liga season. On 14 June 2013, he was appointed manager of Manchester City, and won the Football League Cup and Premier League in his first season as manager, in the process becoming the first manager from outside Europe to manage a team to the English Premier League title. The title winning season was also noted for goal scoring prowess, with Manchester City scoring 151 goals in all competitions – an English football record. Pellegrini also managed to take Manchester City to their first ever semi-final in Champions League in 2015–16, which was his last season, after finishing in fourth-place with 66 points. He managed Hebei China Fortune from 2016 to 2018 before leaving the position in May. He was appointed as manager of West Ham United in May 2018 and lasted 18 months in charge, before he was sacked in December 2019 after a poor run of results. On 9 July 2020, Spanish club Real Betis announced that he would manage the side for the 2020–21 season.
As a coach, Pellegrini has primarily managed teams in Spain, Argentina and Chile. As in his career as a professional player, he also started off coaching Universidad de Chile during the 1988 season, but left the team at the middle of the season to take football coaching courses in Europe.
Pellegrini later reflected on his frustration at not being able to build a team at Real Madrid due to the club's controversial Galácticos policy: "I didn't have a voice or a vote at Madrid. They sign the best players, but not the best players needed in a certain position. It's no good having an orchestra with the 10 best guitarists if I don't have a pianist. Real Madrid have the best guitarists, but if I ask them to play the piano they won't be able to do it so well. He [Pérez] sold players that I considered important. We didn't win the Champions League because we didn't have a squad properly structured to be able to win it."
On 22 May 2018, Premier League club West Ham United appointed Pellegrini as their new manager on a three-year contract. In his first game as West Ham manager, on 12 August, the team lost 4–0 away to Liverpool. His first win with the club came in an EFL Cup match against AFC Wimbledon on 28 August. In the Premier League, having presided over four defeats at the start of the 2018–19 season, Pellegrini oversaw his first win on 16 September with a 3–1 win over Everton. In January 2019, West Ham were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Wimbledon, losing 4–2. At the time Wimbledon were five points adrift at the bottom of League One and playing in the fourth round for the first time in the club’s history. West Ham finished in 10th position in the Premier League in Pellegrini's first season in charge; their first top-ten finish since 2016.
Pellegrini has been roundly praised throughout his career for his attacking managerial style, calm demeanor and excellent man management. Such was Manchester City's ruthlessness in front of goal from all angles – intricate passing moves, crosses, solo-runs and set pieces – The Daily Telegraph likened City's style to "death by beautiful geometry".
Social Network
Manuel Pellegrini is not very active on social media platforms. His focus has traditionally been on his career as a football manager rather than maintaining a public presence online.
Pellegrini moved to Europe in 2004 to take the manager's post at Spanish side Villarreal. Under Pellegrini, Villarreal achieved a third-place finish in La Liga in 2004–05, a Champions League semi-final in 2005–06, and broke the big two in 2008 with a second-place finish in La Liga in 2007–08.
Pellegrini managed Argentine club River Plate from 2002 to 2003 and secured the Clausura championships in 2003. He resigned his post at the end of the campaign.
Education
Pellegrini graduated in civil engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. This educational background is somewhat unusual for a football manager, showcasing his diverse interests and skills beyond the sport.
