Sampaoli sacked by Sevilla after poor performances

Sevilla have fired head coach Jorge Sampaoli. The Spanish side have been struggling all season, no matter the coach in charge. Sampaoli previously took over the team in October after the Spanish side sacked Julen Lopetegui after just 10 games in charge during the current campaign. The club now turns to Jose Luis Mendilibar to escape the drop.

“We have taken the decision to terminate Sampaoli’s contract following the loss to Getafe which leaves us on the brink of the relegation zone,” Sevilla said on the firing.

“The fact that the team has not managed to move clear of bottom of the table since he took over as coach, in addition to the team’s performances in the last few games, have led to this decision.”

Sampaoli departs Sevilla with ‘head held high’

Sampaoli also issued a statement as well. “I leave with my head held high because of the attitude [shown] at all times, because we are in the quarterfinals of the Europa League, and because we put a lot of effort into taking this story forward,” Sampaoli proclaimed on his Instagram.

“Football doesn’t always give back the insomnia we dedicate to it. But I have no doubt that it was worth offering and putting my heart into this shield.”

Coach in charge for 84 games during two stints with club

This was Sampaoli’s second stint at the helm with Sevilla. He also coached the club during the 2016-17 season. Sevilla finished fourth in the LaLiga table that year and made it to the round of 16 in the Champions League. However, the Argentine departed the club to take over as the Argentina national team manager. Sampaoli only managed to remain with the South Americans for one year before leaving.

The coach now leaves Sevilla sitting 14th in the LaLiga table. Los Nervionenses have lost five of their last seven matches and are just two points out of the relegation zone. They have not finished outside of the top 10 in the Spanish top flight since 2001.

Sevilla are, however, still alive in the Europa League. They next face Manchester United in the competition on April 13 and 20. Mendilibar, the incoming manager, has limited experience in that kind of competition. He has managed various teams in Spain, including three different clubs other than Sevilla that are currently in the Spanish top flight.

PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto