Carlos Corberán’s Arrival at Valencia: A Year of Challenges and Opportunities

The arrival of Carlos Corberán at Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 ignited an internal debate, as noted by Miguel Corona, the club’s former sporting director. While there were other candidates, some of whom were more prominent and well-regarded among Valencia supporters, the choice that received approval from the club’s management in Singapore was Corberán. To secure his release from West Bromwich Albion (WBA), a second-tier English club, Valencia had to pay €2.5 million. Following the dismissal of Rubén Baraja on December 23, when the team was positioned second to last in the standings with 12 points and just four away from safety but with one match in hand, the decision to appoint Corberán was deemed a significant risk.

Under Corberán’s leadership, Valencia achieved remarkable survival in the previous season, reaching a point where European qualification seemed possible just three matches before the end. However, the new season has ushered in a renewed decline in both gameplay and results. After 17 league matches—equivalent to the number played under Baraja prior to his dismissal—Valencia has accumulated 16 points, just one above the relegation zone.

On that Christmas Eve a year ago, discussions accelerated despite interruptions caused by the time difference with Singapore. Corberán, then in England for WBA’s match on December 26, reached an agreement with Valencia during the day. Amidst calls, messages, and document exchanges, he signed the contract shortly before sitting down to enjoy one of the year’s most cherished moments with his family, a time that held particular significance for him, as he understood the magnitude of the challenge ahead: to rescue Valencia from a dire situation.

The official announcement of the agreement came in the early hours of December 25, with WBA quickly issuing a statement regarding the loss of their coach due to an impending match in less than 48 hours. Valencia followed suit with an official announcement at 1:42 AM on Christmas Day.

Corberán’s appointment did not yield an immediate turnaround, which makes the team’s eventual resurgence all the more commendable. Initially struggling to find their footing, Valencia benefited greatly from the home advantage at Mestalla. In two matches, they began with a seven-point deficit from safety due to preceding results, yet victories against Real Sociedad, Celta, and Leganés eased the painful aftermath of a 7-1 defeat in Barcelona.

After successfully securing the team’s safety and under the new president Kiat Lim, the club restructured the sporting department around Corberán’s role. The appointment of Ron Gourlay as the new CEO of Football, with whom Corberán had previously collaborated in England, was intended to provide him with a supportive environment for decision-making, cultivating a relationship built on personal and professional rapport.

Currently, while the situation is not identical to last year, there are notable similarities. Consequently, Valencia is actively exploring the winter transfer market to bolster the squad and prevent a downturn in the second half of the season. Corberán has identified the need for a forward, a center-back, a central midfielder, and a right-back, with an immediate priority placed on acquiring a striker capable of playing with their back to goal. The club is also revisiting discussions to secure Nigerian forward Sadiq, who was a target last summer but did not materialize due to an agreement not being reached with Real Sociedad; now, conversations have resumed, as the player is interested in a return to Mestalla.