Mauricio Andrés Pellegrino Luna (; born 5 October 1971) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, currently the manager of Chilean club Universidad de Chile.
Pellegrino played nearly one decade with Vélez Sarsfield, winning nine titles. He left in 1998, winning La Liga on loan at Barcelona. From 1999 to 2005 he played for Valencia, winning two league titles and the UEFA Cup, as well as playing in two consecutive UEFA Champions League finals. He then had brief spells at Liverpool and Alavés. He earned three caps for Argentina, including at the 1997 Copa América.
Pellegrino embarked on a managerial career after retiring, notably working two years with Vélez Sarsfield and leading Alavés to the 2017 Copa del Rey Final. For eight months, he was in charge of Southampton in the Premier League.
Playing career
Club
Vélez and Barcelona
Born in Leones, Córdoba, Pellegrino played for Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield during a large portion of the 1990s, as the Buenos Aires-based club experienced its golden age, winning four Primeira División championships and the 1994 Intercontinental and Libertadores Cups. He received the nickname El Flaco ("The Lanky One") for his physique.
He had his first experience abroad in 1998–99, joining Louis van Gaal's FC Barcelona on loan. He made his La Liga debut on 12 September 1998 in a 1–0 home win against CF Extremadura, and would be used regularly during the campaign, which ended with league conquest.
Valencia
Pellegrino had his best years with another Spanish side, Valencia CF, partnering countryman Roberto Ayala in the heart of the back-four while helping them to two league titles during his tenure, with the addition of the 2003–04 edition of the UEFA Cup. Possessing an Italian passport through descent, he did not take a slot for non-European Union players in the team.
Arguably his worst moment occurred during the 2000–01 final of the UEFA Champions League as he missed the last penalty shootout attempt against FC Bayern Munich (1–1 after 120 minutes)– he also played in the previous season's decisive match, which also ended in defeat, to Real Madrid (0–3). Overall though, in his six years at the Mestalla Stadium, he was a very important defensive unit, and amassed 213 official appearances for the Che.
Liverpool and retirement
In early January 2005, after having been frozen out by Claudio Ranieri, Pellegrino joined former Valencia boss Rafael Benítez at Liverpool on a free transfer, signing a six-month contract– this move made him the first Argentine player in the history of the club. He played 12 times for the Reds in the Premier League – 13 overall – but his performances were not enough to secure a longer contract, and he was released by the club at the end of the season. He was cup-tied for the Champions League campaign, and did not feature in the victory over A.C. Milan in the final of the competition.
Afterwards, Pellegrino returned to Spain, having an unassuming stint with Deportivo Alavés (fewer than half of the matches played, first division relegation).
International
Pellegrino earned three caps for Argentina, all during 1997. He was picked for the squad at that year's Copa América and made his debut in the continental tournament against Ecuador in the group stage.
Coaching career
Early years
After retiring in June 2006, Pellegrino stayed connected with Valencia, coaching its Cadete B (youth team). Two years later he decided to return to Liverpool, who still had Benítez in charge, as first-team coach. In the middle of 2010 the pair moved to Inter Milan, where they were dismissed in December.
Valencia
On 7 May 2012 Pellegrino was appointed as manager of Valencia, signing for two years as a replacement for Unai Emery who had left at the end of the season. The first game of his career was a 1–1 draw at Real Madrid on 19 August. On 1 December 2012, following a 2–5 home loss against Real Sociedad which left the side in 12th place, he was relieved of his duties.
Estudiantes and Independiente
Pellegrino returned to his country, signing with Estudiantes de La Plata in April 2013. On 14 April 2015, he was sacked by president Juan Sebastián Verón. In June, he was appointed at fellow league team Club Atlético Independiente.
Alavés
Pellegrino returned to Alavés on 26 June 2016, being named José Bordalás's successor as the club had just been promoted to the top flight. In his first season he qualified the team for the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time ever, after a 1–0 aggregate defeat of RC Celta de Vigo; in the decisive match, played in Madrid, they lost 3–1 to Barcelona.