RUBEN BARAJA, A FORMER VALENCIA PLAYER, IS HIRED AS GATTUSO’S REPLACEMENT AS COACH.

Valencia, a struggling Spanish football team, on Tuesday recruited former player Ruben Baraja as coach to take Gennaro Gattuso’s place and steer clear of the drop.

Valencia is in the relegation zone in 18th place after 21 games under Baraja, who previously served as the head coach of many second-division clubs in Spain.

Gattuso quit last month as a result of several dismal outcomes. Voro González, the interim coach, had been in control up to this point, losing all three of the games under his supervision. Gattuso began his two-year assignment in June. The team was in 14th place when the Italian coach left.

Former midfielder for Valencia and Spain, Baraja, 47, has coached groups like Real Zaragoza, Tenerife, Sporting Gijón, Rayo Vallecano, and Elche. Additionally, he oversaw a Valencia youth team for a time. Baraja stopped coaching in 2020 after leaving Real Zaragoza.

Baraja was a player with Valencia, who won the UEFA Cup, the European Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey while also winning the Spanish league in 2002 and 2004.

Baraja “knows the quirks of the club and returns home to contribute with his professionalism and passion as a coach after establishing his legendary figure in the 2000s,” Valencia stated in a statement.

Carlos Marchena, another former Valencia player, will be a member of the coaching staff at Baraja. He was Baraja’s former colleague at the club.

Valencia has dropped five straight games across all leagues, including four straight. In its last 13 games, it has only one league victory, which came against Real Betis in November, just before the World Cup. On Saturday, the squad lost 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao at home while supporters demonstrated against the club’s owners.

Several hundred Valencia supporters protested outside Mestalla Stadium in opposition to Singaporean businessman Peter Lim, whom they believe is responsible for yearly sales of Valencia’s top players. Many people put up signs that read “Lim Go Home.”

Monday’s league encounter between Valencia and Getafe, currently in position 19, is scheduled.