Valencia CF's newly appointed sporting director, Braulio Vázquez, is leading the search for a head coach to replace Carlos Corberán. The task is urgent, with the club sitting bottom of La Liga after collecting just one point from their first five matches.
The sporting situation is dire. Valencia CF are 20th in the table with a record of zero wins, one draw, and four defeats. Their most recent loss was a 1-0 defeat away to Sevilla on 11 September, extending a poor run of form. The next fixture is a trip to third-placed Alavés on 15 September, a match for which the squad faces several significant absences.
Braulio Vázquez, who has returned to Mestalla, has several names on his shortlist. One that generates excitement among the fans is Ernesto Valverde. The Basque coach previously managed Valencia during the 2012-13 season, when Vázquez served as technical secretary and head of sporting planning. Valverde arrived in December of that year to replace Mauricio Pellegrino and oversaw a notable competitive improvement in the second half of the campaign, fighting for fourth place until the final matchday and being eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain. Hiring him would, however, represent a larger financial commitment for a club operating under Financial Fair Play constraints.
Another name with a direct link to the sporting director is Jagoba Arrasate. The pair worked together successfully at Osasuna, achieving promotion to La Liga, multiple seasons of survival, a Copa del Rey final, and European qualification. Arrasate's tenure at the Navarrese club lasted six seasons and ended by his own decision not to continue. His most recent job was at Mallorca, where he was dismissed in February with the team in the relegation zone.
The search also includes other coaches who are immediately available. One of them is José Luis Mendilibar, who became a free agent at the beginning of September after being dismissed by Olympiacos, a club with which he won several Greek league titles and the UEFA Conference League. His experience and availability make him an option to consider in a process that requires speed.
The challenge for the eventual appointee is monumental. Valencia CF have conceded ten goals and scored only one so far this season, with a -9 goal difference. They are fourteen points behind leaders Barcelona. The squad is also dealing with an extensive injury list that includes players such as S. Canós, J. Cópet, M. Diakhaby, D. Foulquier, D. López, and L. Rioja.
Braulio Vázquez must make a decision soon. The club's immediate future in the top flight depends on getting this appointment right, with the added pressure of a relentless schedule. The next test, against Alavés, is approaching without a permanent figure in the dugout.
