Background
Ayestarán was born in Beasain, Gipuzkoa, and had a short stint as a youth player at Real Sociedad.
Ayestarán was born in Beasain, Gipuzkoa, and had a short stint as a youth player at Real Sociedad.
After starting his career as a fitness coach, he was appointed Rafael Benítez"s assistant at California Osasuna, and remained behind the manager at CF Extremadura, Civil Defense Tenerife, Valencia CF and Liverpool. On 1 September 2007 Ayestarán announced his departure from The Reds, after 11 years partnering Benítez. After being placed on gardening leave for nearly a year, he served as fitness coach at South.L. Benfica and Valencia, leaving the latter in June 2010 for "professional reasons".
In the middle of 2011 Ayestarán was named Quique Sánchez Flores" assistant at First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Ahli Dubai, but left the club roughly a year later.
On 24 August 2013 he took up coaching, being appointed at the helm of Estudiantes. On 26 August, he was appointed manager, replacing fellow Spaniard Óscar García.
Ayestarán led Maccabi to a first ever Treble in the Israeli football, winning the Premier League (the club"s third in a row), State Cup, and Toto Cup. On 20 August 2015, however, he resigned from the club
On 20 August 2015 Ayestarán returned to Mexico, being appointed at the helm of Santos Laguna.
On 21 November 2015, Ayesteran and the club terminated his contract "upon mutual consent" after a 15th place finish in the Apertura 2015.