Valencia CF dismissed head coach Carlos Corberán and football chief executive Ron Gourlay on Sunday, ending a project that had lasted only one season under the club's Singapore-based ownership group, Meriton. The moves were confirmed hours after Braulio Vázquez was named the club's new sporting director.
A defeat away to Deportivo at the Riazor stadium had already put pressure on Corberán, but a 5-0 home defeat to FC Barcelona at Mestalla left him effectively doomed, according to Spanish broadcaster COPE. COPE said sources inside the club had spoken of an ultimatum running until the international break, with matches against Sevilla FC, Deportivo Alavés and Real Sociedad standing between the coach and the deadline.
A defeat that sealed the coach's fate
Figures at the top of the club had described a miracle as the only thing that could save Corberán, since defeat in any of those three matches would trigger his removal, COPE reported. That defeat came at Sevilla's Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium on Friday, and the club moved immediately to remove both Corberán and Gourlay.
COPE had reported earlier in the week that Kiat Lim, son of majority shareholder Peter Lim, had travelled to Singapore after receiving information from a senior figure inside the club pointing to an unsalvageable relationship between Corberán and his players, and to Gourlay's damaged standing after his role in the club's last transfer window. Public comments from Spain national team captain Rodri Hernández added further pressure inside the dressing room, though COPE said the plan to remove Corberán and Gourlay was already under way in Singapore before those comments emerged.
How the decision was made
Kiat Lim relayed his intentions to his father, who approved the move, COPE reported. The Friday night defeat in Seville closed the debate, and COPE's Partidazo programme said that night the decision had already been taken, based on a clear principle: no experiments, and preferably a coach with experience of Spanish football.
The club wanted to follow the usual order of operations by naming a sporting director first, so he could choose the new coach. Braulio Vázquez, who had worked at Valencia before, was approached again. Saturday passed without an announcement because the club was waiting for Braulio's answer while he was still occupied with his duties at CA Osasuna, who played away to RCD Espanyol in Pamplona that day. Meanwhile in Singapore, Kiat Lim had already secured his father's approval to proceed.
At midday on Sunday, Braulio gave his approval, and Kiat Lim held a video call, first with Gourlay and then with Corberán, telling each that the club no longer required their services. The club then issued an official statement confirming Braulio's appointment.
Valverde the target for the bench
Valencia had already tried to bring Braulio back to the club the previous winter, before Gourlay's arrival. According to COPE's Tiempo de Juego programme, Braulio's preferred candidate to take over as coach is Ernesto Valverde, who has been out of work since leaving Athletic Club and is currently on a sabbatical. Persuading Valverde is considered difficult, though COPE noted that Braulio, who first brought Valverde in to coach Valencia's Mestalla bench in 2012, may be uniquely placed to convince him.
COPE also named other candidates under consideration, including Jagoba Arrasate, a free agent after six successful seasons at Osasuna, as well as José Luis Mendilibar and Javier Aguirre.
Until a permanent appointment is made, Óscar Sánchez, coach of Valencia's reserve side, VCF Mestalla, will take charge of the first team for the match against Deportivo Alavés at Mendizorroza.
A pattern of instability
If everything goes as planned, Valencia hopes to present its new coach on Wednesday, though the club wants to avoid rushing the process given the complexity of the negotiation. Only one match, at home to Real Sociedad, remains before the international break, which would give a new coach a period similar to a mini pre-season to prepare the squad.
The changes mark the latest reshuffle under Meriton, the Singapore-based group that has controlled Valencia CF for 12 years. In that time, the club has had five presidents, 13 coaches and eight sporting directors. Braulio Vázquez, an executive with a strong reputation in Spanish football, is seen as a reassuring figure for supporters weary of repeated upheaval in the club's management.
