Javier Aguirre and Valencia reach a tacit agreement: only details and the signature remain

Javier Aguirre is moving closer to the Valencia dugout. The Mexican coach has a tacit agreement with the club and, if nothing derails the process in the coming hours, he will take charge of the team from next week. Only a few contract details and the formal signature are still pending for a manager who is currently outside Spain.

• Javier Aguirre and Valencia have reached a broad agreement over his immediate appointment.
• The contract signing is pending over minor details, including its length and conditions.
• Valencia could offer one guaranteed season plus an optional second year tied to sporting targets.
• Aguirre, based in Mexico, still owns a home in Madrid and would return to take the job within days.
• If completed, this would be Aguirre's seventh spell as a coach in LaLiga.

Tacit agreement between Valencia and Javier Aguirre pending signature

Valencia and Javier Aguirre have reached an understanding in principle and an official announcement appears to be a matter of time. The Mexican coach, whose current residence is in Mexico although he keeps a home in Madrid, needs to travel back to put pen to paper. The rapport between both sides is total and the margin for the deal to collapse seems minimal.

Aguirre's contract: one fixed season and another optional according to targets

One of the issues still on the table is the length of the contract and the conditions that would trigger an additional year. Braulio Vázquez, Valencia's sporting director, proposed from the outset a deal with one guaranteed season and another optional one, subject to surpassing a more ambitious sporting target than simple survival. The tone of the talks suggests this clause will not become an obstacle to the final agreement.

What is at stake for Valencia at Real Sociedad before the handover

Aguirre's arrival will come after Valencia's match against Real Sociedad on Sunday, with Óscar Sánchez still in charge of the bench. Depending on the result at Anoeta, the new coach could land with the team in the relegation zone or dangerously close to it. From that point on, the Mexican will have 30 league games and a winter transfer window to change the direction of a squad whose salary cap is the eighth highest in the Spanish top flight.

Pol Lorente, the trusted assistant Aguirre wants back

Beyond the contract, there are other classic loose ends to tie up. Aguirre's camp wants to unblock the departure of Pol Lorente from the Mexico national team. The 38-year-old Catalan fitness coach has become an essential part of Aguirre's staff in his most recent spell. Lorente was recruited by Rafa Márquez, Mexico's current head coach, to join his technical team alongside Andrés Guardado and Juanma Lillo, among others.

Aguirre would also work with Toni Amor, a Mallorca-born coach who has accompanied him in previous projects. The Mexican wants to surround himself with a familiar staff he trusts completely in order to lead Valencia's sporting recovery from day one.

Javier Aguirre's seventh spell in LaLiga

If the deal is confirmed, Javier Aguirre would add another chapter to his long history in Spanish football. The Mexican manager has previously coached Osasuna, Atlético Madrid, Espanyol, Zaragoza, Leganés and Mallorca. His experience in emergency situations and his ability to reorganize struggling squads are two of the reasons that have tipped the balance in his favor at Mestalla.

Frequently asked questions about Javier Aguirre's arrival at Valencia