Spanish club Valencia has sacked Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso following the team’s run of poor results.
The announcement came after a 1-0 loss at Valladolid in the LaLiga on Sunday, with the club having just one victory in their last 10 league games going back to before the World Cup.
Gattuso won just five of his 18 LaLiga games in charge.
Valencia’s only two wins this year came in the Copa del Rey, though they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Athletic Bilbao at home last week. In the Spanish Super Cup, Valencia lost to Real Madrid in a penalty shootout in the semifinals.
The Italian only took charge of the LaLiga side in June – 12 months after talks to take over at Spurs fell through – but he has now been axed with the club sitting 14th in the Spanish top-flight.
The 45-year-old penned a two-year deal upon his arrival but he has been unable to stop the downward trajectory over recent years at the club.
Valencia confirmed the news on Monday night, with a statement saying: “Valencia CF announces that this Monday, January 30, the club and the first team coach, Gennaro Gattuso, have decided by mutual agreement to end the contractual relationship that united the Italian coach with the VCF.
“The Club wants to thank the coach for his commitment and work in these months in charge of the first team and wish him the best of luck in his future.
“The team will return to training this Tuesday, January 31, under the orders of ‘Voro’ Gonzalez.”
