Valencia boss Marcelino Toral crashes into wild boar

  • Marcelino Garcia Toral collides with wild boar while driving on Christmas Eve
  • Valencia’s manager required hospital treatment but has been given the all clear
  • The collision took place on a stretch of motorway between Logrono and Bilbao

Valencia manager Marcelino Garcia Toral was given the mother of all Christmas frights when he collided with a wild boar while travelling on a Spanish motorway in the early hours of Sunday.

The 52-year-old was travelling back to his native Asturias ahead of Christmas celebrations, but saw those plans delayed when a boar ran out of adjacent forests into the middle of the road.

Marcelino had to go to a nearby hospital for observations but was later given the all clear.

Valencia’s head coach Marcelino Garcia Toral escaped injury in the high-speed collision

Valencia said in a statement: ‘Marcelino Garcia Toral was involved in a car accident early this morning, while travelling home to Asturias to spend the holidays with his family. 

‘It took place on a stretch of motorway between Logrono and Bilbao, when a wild boar crossed the road and collided with his car. He was taken to hospital, but has already been given the all clear.’

There are currently no details on the welfare of the boar. 

Wild boars are common in the forestry of the Iberian Peninsula and regularly cause accidents

Wild boars are common in the forestry of the Iberian Peninsula and regularly cause accidents

Los Che are now enjoying a Christmas break with their next game coming in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on January 3, which sees them travel to Las Palmas in the first of two legs.

They missed the chance to finish the year in second place after a surprise defeat by his previous club Villarreal on Saturday, failing to take advantage of Atletico Madrid’s loss to Espanyol the previous evening.

Marcelino took over at Valencia at the start of the season after his departure from Villarreal, which came as a result of differences with the board. He became the sixth coach hired by chairman Peter Lim in two years.

Wild boars are common throughout the Iberian Peninsula and have caused havoc as they lose their fear of man. Last month, Spanish police launched an investigation after footage emerged of hikers pushing a boar to its death while on the Picos de Europa.



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