Marcelino Garcia Toral has announced he is stepping down as Racing Santander coach after just one season in charge at the La Liga club.

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Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Marcelino said he had decided to quit in order to take over at a "great" club, although he did not reveal any names.

Marcelino, who has been linked with a move to Valencia, has been a huge success at Racing who he led to the Copa del Rey semi-finals and a sixth-placed finish in La Liga, earning the Cantabrian club their first crack at Europe.

Prior to joining Racing the 42-year-old also enjoyed two memorable years at Recreativo Huelva, who he guided to promotion into the Primera Liga in 2006 before finishing eighth in the top flight last season.

Marcelino, who was accompanied by club president Francisco Pernia at Wednesday's press conference, said: "Two months ago I had a meeting with the president and in that I told him of my decision to not continue with the team.

"I wanted to look for the chance to coach a club at the top, with the chance of fighting in the biggest competitions, at one of these so-called 'greats'."