Valencia sack manager Carlos Corberan and CEO Ron Gourlay after winless start

Wholesale dismissals at Mestalla

Valencia announced on Sunday the dismissal of head coach Carlos Corberan and chief executive officer of football Ron Gourlay following a winless start to the 2026-27 season. The overhaul extends across the entire sporting management, terminating contracts for Corberan's coaching staff as well as four staff members working under Gourlay: Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus, Andres Zamora and Malek Shafei. Corberan departs after 72 official matches in charge, having recorded 28 wins and 26 losses during his tenure. The 43-year-old coach was dismissed just over two months after agreeing to a contract extension on 6 July that was set to run through 2028. Gourlay, who joined the club in May 2025 after previous executive roles at Chelsea, Reading and West Bromwich Albion, had consistently defended the head coach in public before being relieved of his duties.

“This decision reflects the club's intention to begin a new phase for the running of the sporting structure and football operations.”

Collapse in the opening five fixtures

Valencia sit in 20th place at the bottom of the LaLiga table after taking one point from five matches. Following an opening-day draw against Celta Vigo, the team suffered four consecutive league defeats against Real Betis, Deportivo A Coruna, Barcelona and Sevilla. Over 450 minutes of league football, Valencia conceded 10 goals and scored only once, an effort from Umar Sadiq. Discontent intensified among supporters during three home fixtures at Mestalla, where chants demanding Corberan's immediate departure were heard throughout the stadium. Following Friday's 1-0 defeat against Sevilla, traveling fans waited outside the stadium to confront the squad and demand managerial changes.

Goals scored1

Goals conceded10

Goals scored

1 goals

Goals conceded

10 goals

Data from the article text

Mounting pressure in the boardroom

Tensions escalated further after a 5-0 home loss against Barcelona at Mestalla, which marked the first time club president Kiat Lim, son of owner Peter Lim, sat in the presidential box for a league match. The defeat drew wider scrutiny after broadcast footage showed Barcelona midfielder Rodri telling Pau Cubarsi on the bench that Valencia were very bad and very soft. Rodri subsequently called Valencia team captain Jose Luis Gaya to apologize for the remarks caught on camera, though supporters responded by printing t-shirts with the phrase alongside calls for Peter Lim to leave the club. Gourlay's 13-month spell as football CEO ended after failing to build a squad capable of avoiding the relegation zone.

Interim transition ahead of Alaves

Valencia named 46-year-old reserve team coach Oscar Sanchez to take charge of first-team duties on an interim basis. Sanchez, who was appointed manager of VCF Mestalla in March 2026 in Segunda RFEF, will lead the squad into Tuesday's away match against Deportivo Alaves, who are managed by former Valencia player and manager Quique Sanchez Flores. The interim coaching staff will then oversee a home fixture against Real Sociedad before the autumn international break while the board finalizes a permanent sporting structure. Corberan's eventual successor will become the club's 18th permanent head coach since 2012, inheriting a club that has remained in Spain's top division since 1987 but has not finished above ninth place in seven seasons.

“The club wants to convey a message of stability and confidence in the future, reaffirming its commitment to building a solid, competitive and sustainable sporting project.”