Javier Aguirre has a new challenge in Spain. The Mexican coach was hired Wednesday by Valencia, a club that has had a difficult start to the season and is looking to turn things around in La Liga.
“El Vasco,” who will turn 68 in December, returns to coaching a Spanish club following his most recent stint as Mexico’s national team coach, during which he led the team to the World Cup, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by England at Azteca Stadium.
A new chapter
With his arrival at Valencia, Aguirre will manage his seventh different club in Spain. He previously led Osasuna, Atlético de Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Espanyol, Leganés, and Mallorca—a team he managed from 2022 to 2024.
Aguirre takes the reins at Valencia following the departure of Carlos Corberán, who was fired on September 13 after losing four of his first five games of the season. The Valencia team had yet to secure a victory and currently sits second-to-last in La Liga, with four points after seven matchdays.
Since Corberán’s departure, Óscar Sánchez, coach of the reserve team, had temporarily taken charge of the first team.
The Mexican’s arrival is part of a restructuring of Valencia’s soccer operations. Following Corberán’s dismissal, executive director of soccer Ron Gourlay also stepped down, while Braulio Vázquez was named the new sporting director.
A disconnect between the owners and fans
The Valencia club is also going through a difficult period with its fans. Owner Peter Lim, a Singaporean businessman who took control of the team in 2014, has for years been singled out by Valencia fans as responsible for the difficulties the club is facing.
The discontent grew after a 5-0 loss to Barcelona at Mestalla. Following that match, a few thousand fans protested outside the stadium and demanded the departure of Lim and club president Kiat Lim.
On the field, Valencia has not finished higher than ninth place in La Liga since securing fourth place in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. Last season, the team finished precisely in ninth place.
The future for Valencia
Aguirre’s contract runs through the end of the current season, although Valencia is considering extending it for another year. His official presentation will take place next Monday at Mestalla Stadium.
The Mexican coach’s debut with his new team will come on the road against newly promoted Racing Santander on October 11.
