Valencia CF announced on Monday the dismissal of head coach Rubén Baraja following a series of poor results that have left the team in 19th place in LaLiga, with only 12 points. Over their last 24 matches, the club managed just two wins, prompting this drastic decision just days ahead of their clash with Real Madrid.

In an official statement, Valencia said: “The run of results this season has forced us to make a very difficult but necessary decision to turn things around and achieve better outcomes.”

A Promising Start That Faded

Baraja took charge of Valencia in February 2023, when the team was staring at relegation. Through sheer determination, he managed to save the club on the final day of the season and earned a contract extension until 2026. The new campaign began with optimism, even sparking dreams of European qualification, but those ambitions quickly fizzled out.

Despite meeting the initial goal of avoiding relegation, a drop in performance late last season and continued struggles this term ultimately led to his dismissal. While Baraja admitted the results were “indefensible,” he had hoped for a chance to turn things around.

A Sudden Change of Direction

The decision is especially surprising given that just four days ago, club president LayHoon Chan stated she had not received instructions from owner Peter Lim to sack Baraja. She also emphasized that the coach had “full support” from the club, citing his status as “a legend” and his proven ability to handle challenging situations.

In their farewell message, Valencia thanked Rubén Baraja for his “passion, dedication, and commitment,” hailing him as “one of the greatest legends in the club’s history.” However, his tenure ends with a record that makes him statistically the worst-performing coach among the 30 with the most games in charge of Valencia. As the club searches for a quick fix to avoid relegation, they wished Baraja success in his future endeavors.