Date of birth: 16 September 1953
Nationality: Chilean
Playing career: CF Universidad de Chile
Coaching career: CF Universidad de Chile, CD Palestino (three times), Chile Under-20, CD O'Higgins, CD Universidad Católica, LDU de Quito, CA San Lorenzo de Almagro, CA River Plate, Villarreal CF, Real Madrid CF, Málaga CF

• The former centre-back began his coaching career in 1988 with his sole club as a player, Universidad de Chile, before spending the next 16 years working with sides in Chile, Ecuador and Argentina.

• Took over at Villarreal in 2004, guiding them to third place in the Liga in his debut season and securing a place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. His side also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

• The following campaign, Villarreal defied all expectations by reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, where they bowed out 1-0 on aggregate to Arsenal FC. Guided the club to second place in the 2007/08 Liga, a club record, and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals the following season, again being knocked out by Arsenal.

• Signed a two-year contract with Real Madrid on 2 June 2009, the club winning a then record 96 points in the Liga but still finishing second behind FC Barcelona, prompting Pellegrini's dismissal in May 2010

• That November he succeeded Jesualdo Ferreira as coach of Málaga and in the following campaign oversaw a fourth-placed league finish, the club's best ever, subsequently negotiating UEFA Champions League qualifying to reach the group stage for the first time.