Valencia Sack Carlos Corberan and CEO Ron Gourlay After Poor La Liga Start
Valencia have taken drastic action following a disastrous start to the 2026/27 La Liga season, announcing the departures of head coach Carlos Corberan and Chief Executive Officer Ron Gourlay.
The decision was taken by owner Peter Lim and the club’s board after a series of disappointing results left Valencia struggling at the bottom of the Spanish top-flight table.
The breaking point came after Valencia suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Sevilla, their fourth consecutive loss at the beginning of the campaign. Los Che have collected just one point from their opening four matches, earned from a draw against Celta Vigo.
The poor run has prompted Valencia’s hierarchy to initiate a major restructuring of the club’s sporting operations in an attempt to rescue a season that has barely begun.
In an official statement published on the club’s website and social media platforms, Valencia confirmed that Gourlay and members of his management team — Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus, Andres Zamora and Malek Shafei — had been relieved of their responsibilities.
“This decision forms part of the club’s desire to begin a new phase in the structure and management of the football department. Valencia CF would like to thank Ron Gourlay for his work and dedication during his time at the club,” the statement read.
The shake-up also extends to the coaching staff.
Corberan has been dismissed after taking charge in December 2024. During his tenure, the former Huddersfield Town manager oversaw 72 competitive matches.
Valencia thanked Corberan for his professionalism, commitment and dedication, particularly given the difficult circumstances in which he took charge of the team.
Oscar Sanchez, who works with Valencia’s reserve side VCF Mestalla, has been appointed interim head coach while the club considers its next move.
The changes represent one of the most significant restructurings at Mestalla in recent years. Valencia have struggled for consistency both on and off the pitch, and the latest decisions indicate that the club’s hierarchy believes a major reset is necessary to prevent the current campaign from deteriorating further.
Valencia have also confirmed that details of a new football structure and the direction of the club’s sporting project will be announced in the near future.
For now, the message from the board is one of urgency but also an appeal for stability. Supporters have been asked to remain calm and optimistic as the club attempts to rebuild its football operations and reverse a disastrous start to the season.
The immediate challenge, however, will be finding the right replacements — particularly a permanent head coach capable of steering Valencia away from the bottom of the La Liga table.
