Valencia will occupy the opposite technical area for their next home fixture after Aguirre requested a change from the customary position on the left-hand side of the tunnel, as viewed from the main stand.
The decision, reported initially by Tribuna Deportiva and subsequently confirmed by other Spanish outlets, will take effect when Athletic Club visit Mestalla on Saturday. It marks a rare break with a matchday routine that has remained in place since the stadium opened in 1923.
There is no reported practical advantage to the move. Both dugouts have the same dimensions and seating capacity, and the precise reason for Aguirre’s request has not been made public. The change appears to reflect the Mexican coach’s personal preference rather than a need to improve the facilities.
It is not the first time Aguirre has sought to alter the usual arrangement. During his spell in charge of Mallorca, he also asked for his team to use the dugout on the right-hand side at Son Moix. He has now brought the same preference to Valencia after taking charge of the club.
The traditional location at Mestalla was closely linked to the layout of the stadium. The home dressing room is on that side, making it the natural route for Valencia’s players and staff to reach the pitch without crossing the visitors’ path.
That practical history has helped preserve the arrangement across generations of players, coaches and club employees. The change will therefore be noticeable to supporters familiar with the ground’s established matchday setup.
The timing adds another layer of significance. Valencia are in their final season at Mestalla before the planned move to Nou Mestalla in 2027, meaning the switch comes during what is expected to be the old stadium’s last campaign as the club’s home.
The ground’s traditions have taken on particular importance as the club approaches the end of its time there, although the team’s immediate priority is improving its position on the pitch.
Aguirre’s decision is not expected to change the dimensions of either technical area or the match itself, but it does overturn one of Mestalla’s longest-standing customs. Valencia will now prepare for their home fixtures from the other side of the tunnel, beginning against Athletic Club.
The move also recalls previous changes at other Spanish grounds. Sevilla have had coaches request similar adjustments, including Luis García Plaza, while Víctor Espárrago also altered the dugout arrangement during his time in charge.
For Valencia, however, the switch is unusual because it comes in the closing chapter of a stadium’s history, ending a tradition that had outlasted generations of managers.