Valencia have announced they have sacked Gary Neville as Coach ‘in the best interest of the club.’
Neville was a surprise appointment to replace Nuno Santo in December, having not held a senior coaching role following the end of his playing days, a career spent entirely at Manchester United.
The former defender was an assistant to England manager Roy Hodgson as well as a television pundit and joined brother Phil Neville at Mestalla, the younger Neville having been on Nuno’s staff.
Pako Ayestaran, who was appointed to Neville’s staff earlier in the season and previously assisted Rafa Benitez at the club, has been appointed until the end of the season.
“Valencia Football Club have today parted company with Gary Neville as head Coach,” the club statement confirmed.
“After careful consideration, the club have decided to make a change with the best interests of the Valencia moving forward this season. We thank Gary for his work at Valencia and wish him the best in the future.
“The club have, today, appointed Pako Ayestaran as Coach until the end of the season.”
Neville leaves with Los Che 14th in La Liga, six points clear of the bottom three ahead of the last eight games of the season.
It was widely expected that Neville wouldn’t be kept on past the end of the season when his contract was due to expire after a difficult spell that saw nine games lost in a row and a 7-1 hammering at Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
