Braulio Vázquez returns to Valencia as new sporting director
Valencia have announced the return of Braulio Vázquez as the club's new sporting director. The Galician executive arrives from Osasuna after the Mestalla side paid his release clause. He takes over during a major restructuring, with the team bottom of LaLiga.
ByNatilla4 min read
Valencia have confirmed the appointment of Braulio Vázquez as the club's new sporting director. The Galician, who previously held the same role at Mestalla between 2010 and 2013, returns to lead the new football structure just hours after the dismissal of head coach Carlos Corberán, football CEO Ron Gourlay and sporting area staff Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus, Andrés Zamora and Malek Shafei.
- Braulio Vázquez returns to Valencia as sporting director after leaving Osasuna.
- Valencia paid €290,000 to trigger his release clause at El Sadar.
- He arrives after the exits of Carlos Corberán, Ron Gourlay and their staff.
- Valencia are bottom of LaLiga with one point from the first five matchdays.
- The club has turned to a familiar figure to lead a new era.
Why Valencia have hired Braulio Vázquez as sporting director
Valencia's decision reflects the need to rebuild their football department from scratch. After the departure of Ron Gourlay and the people who worked alongside him, the club prioritised an executive with inside knowledge of Mestalla and a proven track record in Spanish football. Vázquez fits that profile: he knows how the club operates and has experience of working under intense pressure.
Braulio Vázquez and his first spell at Valencia
Born in Pontevedra in 1972, Vázquez worked within Valencia's football structure before taking over as sporting director between 2010 and 2013. He now returns with the task of stabilising a club going through a deep restructuring. The official statement from Valencia highlighted the club's confidence in his experience, knowledge and professional background to lead the new phase.
How the football structure looks after Gourlay and Corberán exits
Vázquez's arrival comes after a sweeping institutional shake-up. In the same wave of changes, Valencia ended Carlos Corberán's spell as head coach, dismissed Ron Gourlay as football CEO and parted ways with sporting area members Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus, Andrés Zamora and Malek Shafei. With those positions vacant, the new sporting director takes on the challenge of rebuilding the project from the ground up.
How Valencia arrive at this new chapter
The team faces the change with urgent table concerns. Valencia are bottom of LaLiga and have collected just one point from their first five matches, a burden that conditions every short-term decision. The move for Vázquez is designed to bring in a sporting director used to working through difficult situations and capable of reordering the project on the go.
Braulio Vázquez leaves Osasuna after release clause payment
Bringing Vázquez back to Mestalla was not straightforward from a contractual perspective. The executive had been in charge of Osasuna's sporting department since 2017, working at the club for the past nine seasons. To secure his departure, Valencia had to pay the release clause set out in his contract, which amounts to €290,000. He leaves Pamplona having helped establish Osasuna as a stable LaLiga side.
“Braulio Vázquez now returns to Valencia CF to take on the challenge of leading the club's new sporting structure. The club believes his experience, knowledge and professional career will contribute to this new chapter at Valencia”.
Frequently asked questions
When was Braulio Vázquez previously Valencia's sporting director?
Braulio Vázquez served as Valencia's sporting director between 2010 and 2013. Before that, he had already been part of the club's football structure, so he knows Mestalla from the inside.
How much did Valencia pay for Braulio Vázquez's release clause?
Valencia paid €290,000 to Osasuna to trigger Braulio Vázquez's release clause. The Galician executive had been Osasuna's head of sporting operations since 2017.
How are Valencia doing in LaLiga after Braulio Vázquez's arrival?
Valencia are bottom of LaLiga with just one point from their first five matches. The poor run and the restructuring of the football department have coincided with Vázquez's return to Mestalla.