[5][6] Mel enjoyed his best years at Real Betis, signing with the Andalusia team in 1989 and helping them to achieve promotion in his debut campaign whilst winning the Pichichi Trophy with 22 goals, one better than in the previous season at Castellón.

[7][8] He scored 14 times the following year, but suffered immediate relegation; his debut in the competition was on 2 September 1990, and he found the net in a 2–2 home draw against Sporting de Gijón.

In 2001, after one year at Real Murcia in division two, he replaced Valencia-bound Rafael Benítez at the helm of Tenerife, having his first spell in the top flight as a coach[12] and suffering relegation.

[13] Shortly after, he dropped down a tier and moved to Rayo Vallecano, helping the Madrid club to return to the second division in his second year[14] and subsequently leading it to fifth place, with chances of promotion until the last month of competition.

[15] On 15 February 2010, after a string of poor results, Mel was dismissed by Rayo, being replaced by director of football Felipe Miñambres who helped the side to the 11th position.

[27] On 28 February 2017, Mel was appointed at Deportivo de La Coruña until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Gaizka Garitano at a team two points above the relegation zone in the top division and winless in the new year.

[30] Mel was named manager of Las Palmas on 4 March 2019, replacing Paco Herrera who had been fired earlier the same day, and signed a contract until the end of the season.

[36] On 13 March 2024, Mel took over Almería back in his home country's top tier, becoming their third coach of the season after Vicente Moreno and Garitano.