Valencia Sack Manager Ruben Baraja Amid Relegation Battle

Valencia terminated Ruben Baraja on Monday after a poor start to the season left the squad in the relegation zone. In February 2023, former Valencia player Baraja took command of the club, which was fighting relegation. He got them to safety and a ninth-place finish last season, but their dismal end-of-season form has persisted this season.

“The dynamic of results during this season has required a decision that has been very difficult to make, but which aims to reverse the situation and achieve better results,” the team said in a release.

Valencia is second from bottom with 12 points, four points outside the safety zone, but with a game in hand after losing their first three games and only two wins in 17 league games.

The club’s next match is at home to second-placed Real Madrid on January 3, delayed after flooding last month. After Raffaele Palladino left for Fiorentina at the end of last season, Nesta took over at Monza. His first Serie A managing job.

Monza, the bottom-ranked Serie A team, fired manager Alessandro Nesta after a poor run.

On Sunday, Monza lost 2-1 at home to Juventus, their third straight loss and ninth in 17 games. Since winning their only league match at Hellas Verona in October, the team has lost nine games.

Italian media say former Verona assistant coach Salvatore Bochetti is the favorite to succeed Nesta. Saturday’s match against 17th-place Parma, five points ahead of Monza, is away.