MADRID, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Deportivo Alaves announced Tuesday that Quique Sanchez Flores has been appointed as the club's new coach, with the 61-year-old signing a contract through June 2028.

The former Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Shanghai Shenhua coach takes the helm after Eduardo Coudet left Alaves to return to Argentina to coach River Plate.

Coudet, 51, departs after 55 matches in charge since arriving in December 2024. Alaves won 17 of those games, along with 16 draws and 22 defeats.

Coudet guided the club to its goal of avoiding relegation in his first season, but he stepped down after Friday's 2-0 defeat at Levante, a result that left Alaves with 27 points from 26 matches this season. ■