Valencia Fires Ruben Baraja Amid Poor Performance

JAKARTA - Valencia is still struggling to get out of the relegation zone. Until the 18th week of La Liga 2024/2025, Los Che was ranked 19th in the standings with a collection of 12 points.

Valencia have only packed two wins and six draws from 17 matches they have played so far.

Seeing Los Che's detailed performance, the management decided to fire Manager Ruben Baraja on Monday, December 23, 2024, local time.

A 2-2 draw on Sunday, December 22, 2024, against Alaves reinforces the club's decision to part ways with their legend.

"Valencia CF has decided to end Ruben Baraja's tenure as first team coach."

"The club would like to publicly thank Baraja for the enthusiasm, dedication, and commitment he has shown from day one until the last day of his tenure as a coach," Valencia said in a statement.

As a club legend, Baraja took over the team in February 2023 and guided them to ninth last season.

"The dynamics of results during the season have required a very difficult decision to make, but have been taken with the aim of turning things around and achieving better results," the statement added.

The club has yet to announce who will replace Baraja. The dismissal of Baraja adds to the crisis in Valencia, with supporters demanding for years for owners Peter Lim to sell the club.

The Singaporean entrepreneur acquired Valencia, which was in debt in 2014, but has not yet become a popular figure.

Los Che are regularly forced to sell their top players to reduce the club's high debt. Meanwhile, they did not make significant signings to strengthen the squad.

In January 2025, the club is expected to continue working at the Nou Mestalla Stadium which is one of the commitments Lim made when he took over 10 years ago.

The stalled construction of the new stadium caused the Royal Royal Football Federation (RFEF) to announce Valencia would not be one of the host cities for the 2030 World Cup, although it is Spain's third largest city.

Apart from that, Valencia will host Real Madrid on January 4, 2025 at Mestalla, before facing Eldense four days later in the Copa del Rey.