Marian Mouriño driving Celta Vigo’s identity revival ahead of Lyon tie | OneFootball

Marian Mouriño, the only woman to lead a La Liga club, has driven Celta Vigo’s revival. Her side host Lyon in the Europa League round of 16 first leg on Thursday at 21:00.

L'Équipe reports that the Madrid-born executive, who grew up in Mexico, succeeded her father, Carlos Mouriño, who led the club from 2006 to 2023. A former marketing director from 2005 to 2009, she initially faced jibes about being merely her father’s daughter, yet her vision and competence quickly settled doubts.

Close collaborator Carlos Cao, who oversees institutional relations, says her arrival brought a radical reset and rare unity, crediting exceptional leadership and an ability to bring people together.

Aged 50, Mouriño has anchored the club’s identity to its Galician roots. She launched the first women’s team in 2024 and since 2019 has led the Galicia Sports 360 project, a sports city uniting the academy, education in sport and health, and a hotel.

Cao adds that she has asked colleagues to call her out if she ever puts personal interests above the club, and that in a male-dominated environment she has earned credibility, respect and a fair hearing.

On the pitch she prioritises the academy and local talent. Two years ago to the day she dismissed Rafael Benitez and promoted in-house coach Claudio Giraldez, then 38, the youngest active coach in La Liga.

Celta secured survival, then the following season returned to Europe after nine years, playing front-foot football and blooding a raft of academy graduates.

Source: L'Équipe