Mestalla, the volcano that drew Javier Aguirre to Valencia | OneFootball

Javier Aguirre has taken charge at Valencia, drawn by Mestalla’s pull and the club’s stature. He sees the move as a chance that could round off his career by coaching a second Spanish giant after Atlético Madrid.

According to Superdeporte, he rejected four offers before accepting Braulio Vázquez’s call, pondering retirement while on a family break with his wife Silvia, children and grandchildren. LaLiga and Spain still drive him, though he would not have answered every plea.

He knows Valencia are nearing seven years without Europe. With his staff, the players at full tilt and Mestalla behind them, he believes they could go beyond safety, even if publicly he will stick to a game-by-game line.

He arrived over 24 years ago to lead Osasuna in 2002/03 to survival, then three mid-table finishes and a fourth place that brought Champions League football. Among his first 50 Liga matches, two combustible visits to Mestalla marked him.

In April 2003 Valencia won despite Carlos Marchena’s first-minute red, Mista scoring soon after. Early in 2004, leaders Valencia lost 0-1 to Osasuna via a Mauricio Pellegrino own goal, a bruising night that underlined the stadium’s intensity.

Four standout years at Osasuna earned him Atlético from July 2006 to February 2009, where he returned them to Europe via Intertoto, then a fourth place and Champions League, later leaving them in the last 16. Now on 466 LaLiga games, he wants Mestalla roaring in their favour again.

Source: Superdeporte

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”