Football
Adriana Garcia 7y

Valencia name Jose Ramon Alesanco as sporting director

Valencia have confirmed Jose Ramon Alesanco is the La Liga club's full-time sporting director.

Alesanco had taken on the role on an interim basis after Jesus Garcia Pitarch resigned from the post in January.

A club statement said: "Valencia CF have reached an agreement with Jose Ramon Alesanco, making him the club's new Sporting Director as of today. He will head a structure in which Vicente Rodriguez will be the new Technical Secretary.

"As a player, Alesanco won 17 trophies with FC Barcelona, and has ample experience as a member of that club's sporting management and head of their academy."

A former Spain international, the 60-year-old Alesanco will continue to manage Valencia's Academy, a role he took over in September of 2015.

Alesanco told the club's website: "We want the first team itself to benefit from the work done at the Academy, that job will be very coordinated.

"The sporting structure is going to be powerful and permanent, that is what we will work for. We don't want the structure to be altered even if people change in the future.

"We need to create a short-term, medium and long term structure to see the things that need doing. We will supervise all areas and take decisions."

Valencia, who have had a lot of struggles on the pitch this season, named club delegate Voro Gonzalez as coach until the remainder of the season. Voro had taken temporary charge of the club after Cesare Prandelli's resignation in December.

Prandelli replaced Pako Ayestaran in September, but the former Italy boss was in charge for just eight La Liga games and won only his first.

"We want to take this club to be among the best," Alesanco said.

The team claimed a surprise home triumph over Real Madrid six days ago but then lost at Alaves over the weekend.

Valencia are 13th in the standings, nine points clear of the drop zone and host Leganes on Tuesday.

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