3 candidates to replace ex-Valencia manager Gary Neville

Gary Neville's Spanish journey has officially concluded, with La Liga outfit Valencia announcing Wednesday the club has parted ways with the embattled manager after a four-month stint at the Mestalla Stadium.

Neville's time at the helm of Los Che was marred in controversy from the moment he stepped behind the microphones and faced the Spanish press; he came in with a background as a pundit for Sky Sports and his team's performances reflected that inexperience. Under Neville, Valencia won but three league games in 16 fixtures, losing eight and drawing five.

With Pako Ayestaran coming in as an interim manager until the end of the 2015-16 campaign, here are three candidates who could take over at Valencia next season:

Manuel Pellegrini

After being pushed out by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini could make a move back to La Liga. Though he is keen on a stay in the Premier League, he hasn't ruled out a move abroad, explaining he is more interested with a project than the destination.

"It doesn't matter which club you are going to, whether it's a big or a small team, it depends on the project of the club and what they want to develop at the club and the players you can bring to the club," Pellegrini said earlier in the week.

At Valencia, he most certainly has a project; the average age of the squad is 25 years old, with plenty of young, raw talent touted for success like Andre Gomes, Jose Gaya, Danilo, and Paco Alcacer.

Pellegrini would be a perfect teacher and mentor, as well as a battle-hardened tactician. And with the Spanish language upon his tongue, he wouldn't face a cultural divide like Neville did.

Julen Lopetegui

Manager of FC Porto from 2014 to 2016, this former Spanish goalkeeper also has plenty of experience working with young players as the manager of Spain's Under-21, U-20, and U-19 teams, too. He has UEFA European Under-21 and Under-19 Championship medals to his name from his time at the helm of La Furia Roja's youth ranks.

As a player, Lopetegui has plenty of experience, incidentally one of only a handful of players to play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he made his name with Rayo Vallecano.

He's currently out of work but would certainly be an interesting fit with a young Valencia side, featuring many players he has already worked with.

Rafa Benitez

Well loved at the club for his La Liga heroics in 2001-02 and 2003-04, Rafa Benitez would be a welcome fit at the Mestalla Stadium and one that would ease relations between the club and its hardened, oft-critical supporters.

Currently the manager of Premier League outfit Newcastle United, his mission on Tyneside is simple: avoid the drop. His team faces a relegation battle in a year of utmost importance in England, as a new TV deal kicks in next season that would bring in an unprecedented influx of cash for teams competing in the top flight for the 2016-17 campaign.

Should Newcastle falter, the club would still receive a parachute payment, though not on the scale that staying up would garner.

In any case, Benitez might be remiss to managing in the English second division, so a move back to his native Spain could be preferred. He does have a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if Newcastle is relegated, after all.