Following yesterday’s report saying Sevilla were considering sacking underperforming manager Jorge Sampaoli, the Spaniards have taken decisive action.
The Andalusian outfit communicated through their official website on Tuesday morning that the Argentine tactician is no longer in charge after a string of disappointing results.
Sunday’s disheartening 2-0 defeat at perennial La Liga relegation strugglers Getafe proved too thick to digest for the Sevilla hierarchy, and they have severed ties with Sampaoli.
The 63-year-old returned to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in October last year to try and get Los Rojiblancos out of the lower reaches after a below-part league start under Julen Lopetegui.
However, his inability to guide the team to mid-table, contributing to Sevilla’s worst top-flight start in the 21st century, has forced the club’s hand.
The loss at Getafe was their third defeat in the last four La Liga matchdays (W1), leaving the record-time Europa League winners only two points clear of the drop zone heading into the international break.
With 12 rounds left to play, one of the Spanish best-performing clubs in European competitions in the last decade are seemingly taking their battle for survival to the season finale.
And with Sampaoli now gone, Sevilla must quickly fill the vacancy. Former Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has emerged as the top candidate to take over the reins, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Despite being sidelined from management for almost two years since quitting Deportivo Alaves, the 62-year-old is an established La Liga manager.
He helped Eibar defy their status as hot relegation candidates for six years between 2015 and 2021 before departing for Alaves.
But Mendilibar will only be a short-term solution for Sevilla, as Romano insists he’ll only pen a contract until June.
