Vinas has announced he is leaving his role with the Bundesliga club.
"My time at Schalke has come to an end. It has been a pleasure to work for two years at such a great club as Schalke 04. I hope that in a few weeks the club will be where its history and incredible fans deserve to be," he said today.
Valencia chief exec Ron Gourlay is building a new football management team and has already brought in Lisandro Isei, Hans Gillhaus and Andrés Zamora Pattachiola.
But one more piece is needed: someone with extensive experience in Spanish football and, ideally, European football.
For many, Vinas fits the bill, particularly given his links with Valencia.
A native Valencian, Vinas spent a season with Villarreal coaching inside their academy. At the time, over the 2005/06 season, he also spent time with current VCF coach Carlos Corberan at the Yellow Submarine.