Demichelis signs two-year Mallorca deal despite La Liga relegation
Synopsis
Relegated but not rebuilding without him — RCD Mallorca have handed Martin Demichelis a two-year contract extension despite dropping out of La Liga. The Argentine, who arrived mid-season with the club already in crisis, now faces the harder task: winning promotion back from the second division.
Key Takeaways
RCD Mallorca confirmed Martin Demichelis as head coach through June 2028 , despite relegation from La Liga .
Mallorca finished on 42 points , relegated via La Liga's head-to-head tiebreaker after Elche 's final-day win.
Vedat Muriqi scored his 23rd goal of the season in Mallorca's final-day 3-0 win over Oviedo .
Demichelis, 45 , joined Mallorca in February 2026 , replacing the sacked Jagoba Arrasate .
Girona and Oviedo also drop to the second division alongside Mallorca.
Martin Demichelis will continue as RCD Mallorca head coach after the club confirmed a contract extension through June 2028, despite the team's relegation to Spain's second division at the end of the 2025-26 La Liga season. The Argentinian, who joined Mallorca in late February 2026, has committed to guiding the club back to the top flight.
Contract Details
'Martin Demichelis extends his connection with RCD Mallorca until June 2028,' read an official club communiqué. 'The Argentinian coach has committed himself to us for the next two years,' the statement added. The extension signals the club's belief that Demichelis is the right figure to lead their promotion campaign in Segunda División.
How Relegation Unfolded
Mallorca ended the season on 42 points, finishing their campaign with a 3-0 home win over Oviedo — goals from Pablo Torre, Manu Morlanes, and Vedat Muriqi, who netted his 23rd goal of the season. However, it was not enough. La Liga's head-to-head tiebreaker system meant Mallorca needed results elsewhere to survive. Although Levante lost 2-1 to Betis and Osasuna fell 1-0 at Getafe, Elche's win on the final day sealed Mallorca's fate. They join Girona and Oviedo in dropping to the second division.
Why Demichelis Was Appointed
Demichelis replaced Jagoba Arrasate, who was sacked following a 2-0 defeat away to Celta Vigo in February — a result that left Mallorca third from bottom with 24 points from 25 games and just six wins all season. Arrasate had joined the club in the summer of 2024 after leaving Osasuna, having guided Mallorca to 10th place the previous season with 48 points from 38 games. Demichelis made his managerial debut at the club in a home fixture against Real Sociedad.
Demichelis: The Profile
The 45-year-old brings considerable pedigree to the role. As a player, he represented Bayern Munich, Málaga, and Manchester City, earning more than 50 international caps for Argentina. His coaching career has taken him through Bayern Munich's B-team, River Plate — where he won a league title and a Supercup — and Mexican club Monterrey. Notably, this is his first senior coaching role in European football.
What Comes Next
Mallorca will now prepare for life in Segunda División with Demichelis at the helm. The club's ambition is clear: an immediate return to La Liga. Whether the squad retains key contributors like Muriqi — whose 23 goals were a rare bright spot in a difficult campaign — will be a defining question of the summer transfer window.
Point of View
But it also raises questions. He arrived with Mallorca already deep in trouble and could not arrest the slide — 42 points was not enough, and the head-to-head system left no margin for error. The club is betting on continuity over a clean break, a gamble that has mixed precedent in Spanish football. The real measure of this decision will come in the summer window: if Muriqi and the core of the squad stay, promotion is plausible; if the squad fragments, the two-year deal could become an awkward inheritance.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did RCD Mallorca get relegated from La Liga?
Mallorca were relegated after finishing on 42 points, with La Liga's head-to-head tiebreaker system working against them on the final day. Despite beating Oviedo 3-0, Elche's win elsewhere sealed their drop to the second division.
How long is Martin Demichelis's new contract with Mallorca?
Demichelis has signed a contract extension keeping him at RCD Mallorca until June 2028, a two-year commitment announced by the club on Thursday.
When did Demichelis join Mallorca?
Martin Demichelis joined RCD Mallorca at the end of February 2026, replacing Jagoba Arrasate who was sacked after a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo left the club third from bottom.
What is Martin Demichelis's coaching background?
The 45-year-old Argentine previously managed Bayern Munich's B-team, River Plate — winning a league title and a Supercup — and Mexican club Monterrey. His Mallorca role is his first senior coaching position in European football.
Who else was relegated from La Liga in the 2025-26 season?
Alongside Mallorca, Girona and Oviedo were also relegated to the second division at the end of the 2025-26 La Liga season.
