Óscar Sánchez, who was the coach of Valencia's juvenile A team just six months ago, has taken over the reins of the first team in a desperate bid to secure a win against Alavés in Vitoria. This meteoric rise has seen Sánchez go from coaching the juvenile team to now being responsible for trying to lift the struggling first team out of the bottom of the league table. The 23 March 2026 announcement has left many in the football world wondering how Sánchez will cope with the pressure of managing the first team.
Sánchez's appointment has been met with surprise, given his relatively short tenure as coach of the juvenile team. However, his experience in replacing Miguel Ángel Angulo as coach of Valencia Mestalla last season has given him valuable experience in managing the club's second team. Sánchez's own words, spoken just hours before the announcement, suggest that he was unaware of the decision to replace Corberán. "I was analysing the team's defeat and was asked if anyone from the club had contacted me to inform me that I would be taking over as interim coach," he said.
For now, Sánchez will occupy the bench of Valencia, but the club may hire a new coach after the international break. The international break is scheduled to take place after the match against Real Sociedad in Mestalla. Sánchez's focus will be on improving the team and securing points, with the aim of taking steps forward.