Jorge Sampaoli is sacked by Sevilla ahead of next month’s Europa League quarter-final against Man United after just five months in charge, with the Spanish team only two points above the LaLiga relegation zone, since José Luis Mendilibar ‘prepares to take over’.
Jorge Sampaoli has been sacked by Sevilla following the club’s defeat at the hands of Getafe on Sunday after just five months in charge.
The defeat leaves the club stuttering to 14th place in La Liga after a miserable season that has left them hovering just two points from the relegation zone.
If Sevilla were to be relegated at the end of the campaign, next season would mark the first time the Spanish club has played outside of La Liga in 22 years.
Sevilla FC has terminated the contract of its coach, Jorge Sampaoli, after the team’s defeat in Getafe, which once again placed it on the verge of relegation, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
The fact that the team has not managed to get out of the lowest places in the table since he joined as coach and the image offered in the team’s last matches have led the club to make this decision, in search of a reaction in the twelve last days that remain to finish the league.
Jorge Sampaoli has been sacked by Sevilla after failing to get them out of relegation danger
Sevilla’s defeat against Getafe has left them floating two points from the relegation places
Sevilla player and captain Jesús Navas looked dejected after his latest defeat away from home
Sevilla FC thanks Sampaoli for the services he has provided and wishes him the best of luck in his future.
But they have moved quickly to replace him, reportedly agreeing terms with former Eibar and Alavés boss José Luis Mendilibar.
Mendilibar, who would take charge until the end of the season, would be the club’s third coach of the season.
Sampaoli was appointed to his second term in October 2022, taking over after Julen Lopetegui was sacked following a dismal start to the season that saw him oversee five losses in his last eight games in charge.
Lopetegui was later tapped to try and steer Wolves away from the threat of relegation from the Premier League.
The Argentine coach had previously served as Sevilla’s head coach during the 2016-17 season, during which time he presided over a 40-match unbeaten run.
José Luis Mendilibar has reportedly agreed to join the embattled club until the end of the season.
Sevilla is the most successful team in the history of the Europa League and can add a seventh crown
Sampaoli was then hunted down by his national team, overseeing a chaotic 2018 World Cup campaign where he endured an aborted player mutiny following an uninspiring run in the group stages.
The former Chile national team coach survived the threat, but his Argentina team was later eliminated by eventual winners France.
The new Sevilla coach will have the international break before Sevilla’s next two LaLiga games against Cádiz, 15th, and Celta de Vigo, 10th.
In less than a month, Sevilla will travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.