Valencia have appointed former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre on a contract until the end of the season, with the club currently 19th in LaLiga after taking four points from their opening five games.
The 67-year-old replaces interim manager Oscar Sanchez, who had taken charge after Carlos Corberan was dismissed last week. Valencia have an option to extend Aguirre’s deal for another year.
Aguirre returns to Spanish football after a two-year absence, during which he managed the Mexico national team. At this year’s World Cup, he led Mexico to their first knockout-stage victory in the competition since 1986, when the tournament was held in Mexico.
Mexico’s run ended with a 3-2 defeat by England in the last 16.
Valencia will be the seventh Spanish club managed by Aguirre. His immediate task is to improve a start that has left the club in the relegation zone and facing another battle to stay in LaLiga.
Corberan was dismissed after Valencia collected only one point from their first five matches. Sanchez then oversaw the club’s next two league fixtures before the international break.
Valencia won their first match under Sanchez against Alaves but followed it with defeat by Real Sociedad, leaving them with four points from seven games.
The club also announced on September 13 that chief executive of football Ron Gourlay and Corberan were leaving. Braulio Vazquez returned as sporting director for a second spell on the same day.
Aguirre and Vazquez, an experienced partnership, will now work together as Valencia attempt to move away from the bottom three. Relegation battles have become a familiar feature of recent seasons for Los Che.