Mid-table Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid have sacked head coach Gregorio Manzano.
Los Rojiblancos part company with manager
Mid-table Primera Liga club Atletico Madrid have sacked head coach Gregorio Manzano.
The board 'unanimously' decided to part company with the 55-year-old following their midweek Copa del Rey exit at the hands of third-tier Albacete.
Atletico are currently 10th in Spain's top flight and Diego Simeone, who had two spells as a player for the club, is tipped to take control after quitting Argentina's Racing Club on Tuesday.
Sacked
"The executive board of Atletico Madrid, in a meeting on Thursday to assess the sporting situation, decided unanimously to dismiss Gregorio Manzano as first team coach," read a statement on the club's
official website.
"This decision has been relayed to the coach, with whom an agreement has been reached to end his contract.
"The club will now focus on completing the hiring of a coach to lead the first team."
Apology
Former Sevilla boss Manzano has accepted full responsibility for the club's below-par campaign and has apologised to fans.
"There have to be people responsible and professionals. When things don't go well, undoubtedly you have to accept the criticism and I am the first to accept it," he said.
"I personally apologise because the truth is that our fans have been supporting the team even in adversity until they could see we were powerless to get back on the scoreboard."
