Sevilla have sacked their manager Jorge Sampaoli just weeks before they are due to face Manchester United in the Europa League.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Sevilla have terminated the contract with their coach, Jorge Sampaoli, after the team’s defeat in Getafe, which has put the team back on the verge of relegation places.
“The fact that the team has not managed to get out of the lowest positions of the table since his incorporation as coach and the image offered in the last matches of the team have led the club to make this decision, in search of a reaction in the last twelve days remaining to finish the League.
“Sevilla FC thanks Sampaoli for his services and wishes him the best of luck in his future. The entity works in the last hours in the hiring of a new coach and the intention is that he will direct the training session scheduled for 18:00 p.m. this afternoon.”
Jorge Sampaoli sacked by Sevilla ahead of Manchester United clash
As the statement says, Sevilla were not wasting any time in trying to get a new manager in the dugout and Fabrizio Romano has already tweeted who it will be.
He says Jose Luis Mendilibar will be appointed by the La Liga outfit on a short-term deal which will last until the end of the season.
Mendilibar, 62, was most recently in work at Alaves, but left them shortly under a year ago and has been out of work since.
He will be Sevilla’s third manager of the season, given that Sampaoli himself was a mid-season replacement for Julen Lopetegui, who joined Wolves.
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Sevilla now sit 14th in the La Liga table, just two points clear of the relegation zone in what is a congested and keenly fought relegation battle.
United host Sevilla on April 13, which will be Mendilibar’s third match in charge, on the back of a trip to face Cadiz and a home clash with Celta Vigo.
That means there may be an element of a new manager bounce, but the sacking underlines the way that Sevilla’s season has been going.
United have beaten three La Liga sides to get to this stage, all of whom are ranked far higher in the table than Sevilla, so while this tie cannot be taken lightly, United have to be strong favourites.