After a disastrous run in the current La Liga season, which has seen them occupy the relegation places, Valencia have parted ways with coach Gennaro Gattuso and appointed the club’s former key player on the bench.

Ruben Baraja became the new coach of Valencia

Ruben Baraha faces a difficult task to correct the team’s game and break out of the dangerous zone of the rating. His staff will include another former player of “Bats” Carlos Marchena, writes Marca.

The former Spain international was out of contract after coaching Elche, Rayo Vallecano, Sporting Gijon or Zaragoza in Segunda.

Valencia’s majority shareholder Peter Lim believed that Baraja is a club legend who can manage both the team and the relationship with the fans.

The Spaniards’ first option on the technical bench was Vicente Moreno, who currently plays for Al-Shabaab in Saudi Arabia, with whom they are fighting for the title. He had to resolve his contractual situation before arriving at Mestalla, which became an obstacle in the negotiations.

Valencia is 18th in the Spanish standings after 21 matches with only 20 points. He has four losses in a row, and the last victory in the championship took place in November.

As a player, Ruben Baraja played for Valencia from 2000 to 2010, scoring 41 goals in 263 games. He also has 43 matches in the Spanish shirt, during which he scored 7 goals.