Carlos Corberan has said it was the “hardest decision of my life” to leave his position as West Bromwich Albion manager to become Valencia head coach.
Corberan was appointed by Valencia on Christmas Eve after Ruben Baraja was sacked on Monday by the Spanish club, who have won just two of their opening 17 La Liga matches this season and sit second from bottom in the standings.
49-year-old Baraja had overseen just one victory in the club’s last 11 league matches and none in their last five — a run of results which has yielded just two points, including defeat at Real Valladolid, the one side below them in La Liga.
Corberan, born in the Valencian town of Cheste and who played for Valencia’s B team, is now Valencia’s 17th head coach since 2012.
“I cannot begin to explain how I feel about West Bromwich Albion, its fans and everyone associated with the club,” Corberan wrote in an open letter to the club’s fans on Christmas Day.
Official statement | Carlos Corberán
Welcome to Valencia CF, Carlos! 🤝
🔗 https://t.co/pYEWBwI5Ux#BenvingutCorberán #VCFDNA pic.twitter.com/Kj1KSw80gS
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) December 25, 2024
“In my more than two years here I have only felt LOVE from this community and the decision to leave has been the hardest of my life. There will ALWAYS be a place in my heart for this special club and I hope one day I can return to thank you all for your incredible support.”
Corberan was appointed as Huddersfield Town managed in 2020 and led the club to the Championship play-off final in 2021-22, losing out to Nottingham Forest.
The Spaniard was then appointed as head coach of Greek club Olympiacos but after winning just two of his 11 games in charge, was relieved of his duties and subsequently appointed at West Brom in October 2022.
Corberan had led West Brom to ninth and fifth placed finishes in the Championship, with the club currently seventh in the standings — one position outside of the promotion play-off places.
Valencia have not finished higher than ninth in any of the past five seasons and they have been in Spanish football’s top division since 1987.
Baraja was appointed as the club’s head coach in February 2023 and secured the club’s top-flight survival by a two-point margin on the final day of that season, before finishing ninth in the 2023-24 campaign.
Corberan’s first match as Valencia head coaches comes on January 3 as they host Real Madrid in La Liga.
(Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images)
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