La Liga: Javier Aguirre takes charge at Valencia, vows 'one step at a time' revival
Synopsis
Veteran tactician Javier Aguirre has returned to Spanish football to take charge of a Valencia side mired in the relegation zone, with just four points from seven La Liga matches. The 67-year-old, fresh from his Mexico World Cup tenure, says he is 'only thinking' about his debut at Racing Santander on 11 October — a deliberately cautious tone that signals he knows the scale of the rebuild ahead.
Key Takeaways
Javier Aguirre , aged 67 , has been appointed head coach of Valencia CF on a deal until June 2027 with an option for a further season.
Valencia sit 19th in La Liga with just four points from their first seven matches.
Aguirre replaces Carlos Corberan , who was sacked after a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla .
His debut is scheduled away to Racing Santander on 11 October , following the international break.
The appointment was overseen by new sporting director Braulio Vazquez ; Aguirre previously coached Osasuna , Atletico Madrid , Mallorca , and Levante in Spain.
Javier Aguirre has been officially unveiled as the new head coach of Valencia CF, pledging a measured, game-by-game approach as he attempts to drag the La Liga side out of the relegation zone. The 67-year-old Mexican tactician, who stepped down as Mexico national team coach following this summer's World Cup, takes over a club sitting 19th in the table with just four points from their opening seven league matches.
Aguirre's First Words as Valencia Coach
Speaking at his official presentation, Aguirre said he could 'never say no' to a club he described as 'historic.' He told reporters he had accepted the offer almost immediately upon receiving it, underlining the pull of one of Spanish football's most storied institutions.
When pressed on whether he could guide Valencia into European qualification — a target that would trigger an automatic contract extension beyond June 2027 — the new coach was characteristically pragmatic. 'I don't like thinking too far ahead,' he said, adding that his immediate focus was solely on his debut fixture away to Racing Santander on 11 October.
On the subject of his contract, Aguirre was equally relaxed. 'There have been situations where I didn't finish a contract I had, and others where I stayed on without one. If we're comfortable, I'll stay,' he said.
A Familiar Return to Spanish Football
Aguirre is no stranger to the demands of La Liga. His coaching career in Spain includes stints at Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, Mallorca, and Levante, giving him a depth of experience in the Spanish football landscape that few foreign coaches can match. His appointment was overseen by Valencia's new sporting director Braulio Vazquez, who moved quickly to bring in an experienced hand after a turbulent start to the campaign.
Aguirre has signed a deal running until June 2027, with an option for a further season should results warrant it.
What Led to the Managerial Change
The appointment comes after Valencia sacked previous coach Carlos Corberan following a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla. Reserve team coach Oscar Sanchez stepped in on a caretaker basis, overseeing a midweek away victory against Alaves before a narrow 3-2 home defeat to Real Sociedad on Sunday.
The mixed results under the caretaker underscored the urgency of bringing in a permanent appointment, and the club moved swiftly to secure Aguirre's services.
The Challenge Ahead
With the international break now providing a window to work with his new squad, Aguirre will have roughly two weeks to assess his personnel and implement his ideas before the competitive pressure resumes. Valencia's position in the bottom three makes every fixture from here on a high-stakes affair, and the trip to Racing Santander on 11 October will serve as the first real test of his ability to stabilise the club. This is the second managerial change at Valencia this season, reflecting the acute pressure on a club that has historically competed at the upper end of La Liga.
Point of View
But Valencia's problems run deeper than a coaching change can fix in isolation. Four points from seven games points to structural deficiencies — in squad depth, cohesion, and possibly morale — that no single appointment resolves overnight. His deliberately low-key 'one step at a time' framing is shrewd man-management, but it also quietly lowers expectations. The real question is whether sporting director Braulio Vazquez can back Aguirre with the tools he needs in January, or whether this becomes another short-term sticking plaster on a club that has cycled through managerial changes without addressing root causes.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Javier Aguirre and why has he been appointed at Valencia?
Javier Aguirre is a 67-year-old Mexican coach with extensive La Liga experience, having previously managed Osasuna, Atletico Madrid, Mallorca, and Levante in Spain. He was appointed to lift Valencia out of the relegation zone after the club sacked Carlos Corberan following a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla.
What is Valencia's current position in La Liga?
Valencia are 19th in La Liga — inside the relegation zone — having collected just four points from their opening seven matches of the 2024-25 season.
When will Javier Aguirre make his managerial debut with Valencia?
Aguirre's first competitive match in charge is scheduled for 11 October, away to Racing Santander. The international break gives him roughly two weeks to work with the squad before that fixture.
What are the terms of Aguirre's contract at Valencia?
Aguirre has signed a contract until June 2027, with an option to extend for a further season. A Europa League qualification finish would reportedly trigger an automatic extension.
Who managed Valencia between Corberan and Aguirre?
Reserve team coach Oscar Sanchez took charge on a caretaker basis after Corberan's dismissal, overseeing a midweek away win against Alaves and a 3-2 home defeat to Real Sociedad before Aguirre's appointment was confirmed.
