Valencia Appoint Javier Aguirre as New Head Coach After Poor Start to La Liga Season

Valencia have appointed Javier Aguirre as their new head coach, turning to the experienced Mexican tactician after a poor start to the La Liga season left the club in trouble.

Aguirre, widely known as "El Vasco," joins Valencia on a deal running until the end of the season, with the club holding the option to extend it by another year. His arrival comes just months after wrapping up his stint in charge of Mexico at the World Cup.

The 67 year old takes over a side sitting second from bottom in La Liga, with just four points from seven games. That poor run cost previous coach Carlos Corberan his job, with the Spaniard let go on September 14 after a rough opening month to the campaign.

Aguirre has a long history in Spanish football, having previously managed Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Espanyol, Leganes and Mallorca, along with spells coaching clubs and national teams in Japan, the UAE, Egypt and Mexico. His time in Spain includes leading Osasuna to Champions League qualification, and back home in Mexico he won the league title with Pachuca in 1999 and the CONCACAF Champions League with Monterrey in 2021.

The move comes at a time of wider change at Valencia, with new sporting director Braulio Vazquez only introduced at the club earlier this week. Aguirre is seen as someone capable of steadying things on the pitch while the club rebuilds behind the scenes, and reports suggest his enthusiasm for the project helped get the deal done quickly. He will be officially unveiled to the media next Monday, September 28, at Mestalla.

With the club giving him a deal through to the end of the season and an option beyond that, Valencia get both an experienced hand for their immediate fight to stay up and the possibility of a longer term appointment if things go well. Given they've picked up just four points from seven games, there will be pressure on Aguirre to get results fast, starting with training sessions before he's even formally presented to the media.