Football: Valencia part ways with coach Gattuso
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Valencia's head coach Gennaro Gattuso reacting during the LaLiga match against UD Almeria at Mestalla stadium in Valencia on Jan 23.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MADRID – La Liga strugglers Valencia announced on Monday that they have parted company with coach Gennaro Gattuso after less than half a season in charge.
Gattuso, an Italian World Cup winner who won the Champions League twice and clinched two Serie A titles with AC Milan, was appointed in June 2022 – he was the 10th coach, permanent or temporary, that the Spanish side had hired since Singaporean businessman Peter Lim took over in 2014.
“The club and the first-team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, have decided by mutual agreement to end the contractual relationship between the two parties,” Valencia confirmed in a statement on their website.
The club added that “Voro” Gonzalez – who has been caretaker or interim boss at the club on six occasions – will take charge of Tuesday’s training session.
Gonzalez will presumably be in charge of Thursday’s La Liga visit to Real Madrid in a game postponed earlier in January due to both sides playing in the Spanish Super Cup.
Gattuso leaves the club after a disastrous week that saw Valencia knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, losing 3-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao last Thursday, and suffering a 1-0 loss to Valladolid at the weekend, ending their rivals’ run of five consecutive defeats.
“It is clear that I am responsible for this,” the 45-year-old former Milan and Napoli coach said on Sunday after the defeat.
“It’s true that the team is not playing calmly at the moment, I will respect whatever decision the club makes.”
But the Italian joined a Valencia side in turmoil as fans demanded investment from owner Lim.
Since the Singaporean took charge, the club have had a string of coaches, including Nuno Espirito Santo, Gary Neville, Pako Ayestaran, Cesare Prandelli, Marcelino, Albert Celades, Javi Gracia and Jose Bordalas.
Valencia have won five, drawn five and lost eight of their 18 La Liga matches this season and Sunday’s defeat leaves them 14th on the table, but just one point above 18th-placed Cadiz.
REUTERS, XINHUA, AFP
