Gattuso exits Valencia as Spanish club battles against relegation

January 31 – Valencia have parted ways with their coach Gennaro Gattuso following a 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid, leaving the club one point above the relegation zone.

The La Liga club said in a statement that the parties had reached a mutual agreement to end their contract. Valencia have only won five out of their 18 matches this season and the latest defeat sealed Gattuso’s fate.

He is the tenth coach to be dismissed during the ownership of Peter Lim, who has always had close ties to Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes. Gattuso is also a Mendes client.

Voro Gonzalez will take over on an interim basis, his eighth stint as caretaker manager of the club.

Gattuso arrived in June on a two-year contract following a spell with Fiorentina. He began his coaching career with Sion in Switzerland before taking on bigger managing roles with AC Milan and Napoli. The former defensive midfielder helped Italy win the 2006 World Cup. At club level he won the Champions League twice with AC Milan.

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