Aguirre in for sacked Pochettino at Espanyol

"RCD Espanyol and Javier Aguirre have sealed a deal for the Mexican to become coach of the blue and whites until the end of the season," the club said in a statement on their website on Wednesday.

Aguirre, who will be 54 on Saturday and has had extensive La Liga experience with Osasuna, Atletico Madrid and Real Zaragoza, would arrive in Barcelona later on Wednesday to sign his contract, the statement said.

Former Argentina international Pochettino took the helm at Espanyol in January 2009 and won praise for his work in bringing through youngsters from the academy.

However, after taking only nine points from their opening 13 games of the 2012/13 campaign a 2-0 defeat at home to Getafe on Sunday was the final straw for the club's directors and they decided a change was needed.