Monchi breaks silence on Aston Villa exit and reveals shock career plan

Tom Weber

• Updated: 26 Sept 2025 11:34 BST
• 5 min read

News

Transfer guru Monchi has broken his silence after his shock exit from Aston Villa earlier this week and confirmed his surprising new career plans.

On Monday evening, while the Ballon d'Or ceremony was in full swing, news broke that the Spaniard was set to leave Villa Park just two years after joining. By Tuesday evening, his exit had been officially confirmed.

Aston Villa have replaced Monchi with Roberto Olabe, formerly of Real Sociedad. Described as a 'significant coup,' the Basque, who previously signed Alexander Isak and Martin Odegaard, is the Birmingham club's new president of football operations.

As for Monchi, his future has been the subject of speculation, particularly in his native Spain. Although he faced plenty of difficulties at Aston Villa, having to primarily do a lot of financial manoeuvring and firefighting, his reputation is still sparkling.

As such, the 57-year-old surely has no shortage of high-profile suitors. However, he has now confirmed that he is unlikely to return to the elite game anytime soon and that he will instead focus on his passion project.

Monchi on Villa exit, new career plans

Speaking at a press conference, Monchi said of his Villa exit: "Basically, after two very enjoyable years in Birmingham, we all believed that the best thing for the next steps was to seek new challenges and new people. Everything was agreed mutually.

"I'm not 100 per cent disengaging from management. I'm going to do a much more relaxed and calm job, so I can do other types of activities. I can only thank the owners of Aston Villa. Obviously, Unai Emery, too. And the fans, who have thanked me for everything."

The Andalusian then went on to confirm something that had already been rumoured: that he will devote his time to rebuilding hometown club CD San ​​Fernando 1940, whom he recently refounded with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos.

CD San Fernando, originally established in 1940 and supported by Monchi's father, were liquidated in 2009 and reestablished shortly thereafter. Last month, that successor side also folded, prompting Monchi and Ramos to step in and create another phoenix club.

"I'm a person who has been employed for 38 years," Monchi explained. "Yesterday was my first day unemployed. San Fernando is a motivation for the rest of my life. This summer, I've become very involved with my city, as it should be.

"To do so, to create the club, I've had the support of the San Fernando City Council, and I've been fortunate enough to surround myself with a magnificent group of colleagues.

"Was CD San ​​Fernando 1940 the reason [to leave Villa]? No, but to burn off that adrenaline I feel on a daily basis, I needed this. If I had written a script, this would have been it.

"My only dream, my only obsession, my only motivation, my only dedication is Club Deportivo San Fernando. I want to dedicate as much time as possible to the club.

"From day one, this project must run parallel to the league it's in and respond to the excitement it's created in the city. I think it would be disrespectful not to be 100 per cent involved in the project."

"In the group we worked with, I was the most pessimistic. I sensed that people would respond, but not at this level. It's been a concatenation of events and resilience. CD San ​​Fernando has followed the mould of its mother, of the city, and has been an example of resilience.

"It's not difficult for me to get emotional. It's a special day for me. My voice trembles a little, but I think that's beautiful. As I said before, I've been working for 38 years. I left here in 1988. I left for Seville. It was all about closing the circle and returning to my city with humility, heart, and dedication. I'm very excited.

"We're going to take it step by step. I don't believe in skyscraper-type projects, but rather in a solid foundation. We have to build the foundation. When we have the foundations built and the city wants it, we'll take the steps we need to take. We have to go little by little.

"Thinking about what lies beyond is complicated right now. I want to see the team in the First Division, but right now, this is a newborn baby. We have to be very patient."

The newly-founded San Fernando will compete in the third tier of regional Andalusian football, which is the ninth tier of Spanish football.

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