Real Zaragoza have parted company with coach Jose Aurelio Gay and are set to name Javier Aguirre as his replacement, the Primera Division club have announced on their website.

Gay leaves Zaragoza with the club rooted to the bottom of the table after picking up just one win and seven points from their opening 11 games, with his final match in charge being last Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Sevilla.

Zaragoza were also knocked out of the Copa del Rey after losing on away goals to Segunda Division Real Betis at the last-32 stage.

The 44-year-old Gay will say his goodbyes to his players this morning before speaking to the media.

Real Zaragoza have reached an agreement in principle with Javier Aguirre to take charge of the first team.
Club statement

A statement on the Zaragoza website read: "Real Zaragoza want to acknowledge the work and dedication of Jose Aurelio Gay, which were keys to achieving Primera Division survival last season. Real Zaragoza will always be the home of Jose Aurelio Gay."

Gay took charge of Zaragoza last December following the departure of Marcelino Garcia Toral, who was sacked with the club 17th in the standings with just three wins from 16 competitive games after winning promotion.

Gay, who was the club's reserve team coach, was put in temporary charge and lost his first match 6-0 to Real Madrid.

However, the Zaragoza board decided to stick with Gay until the end of the season and he rewarded them by leading the team to a 14th-placed finish.

The new man in the hotseat at La Romareda is set to be 51-year-old Aguirre, the former Mexico coach who has plenty of Primera Division experience having managed Atletico Madrid and Osasuna in Spain.

The Zaragoza statement said: "Real Zaragoza have reached an agreement in principle with Javier Aguirre to take charge of the first team. It is hoped to able to formalise the agreement today and proceed with the presentation of the new coach."

Zaragoza's next match is away to Getafe on Monday night. The club later confirmed that Aguirre will be presented as their new coach this afternoon.

Aguirre was coach of Mexico before spending four seasons in charge of Osasuna between 2002 and 2006, during which time he led the small Pamplona-based club to a fourth-placed finish in his final year and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

He also guided Osasuna to their first-ever Copa del Rey final in 2005, which they lost to Real Betis 2-1 after extra time.

Aguirre then took charge of Atletico for two-and-a-half years, leading the club to a seventh-placed finish in his first campaign and fourth spot in his second - earning the club a place in the Champions League for the first time in over a decade - before parting company with Los Rojiblancos in February 2009.

Aguirre then returned to his former position as coach of Mexico, who he led into the last-16 at this summer's FIFA World Cup™ before suffering a 3-1 defeat to Argentina.