Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Almeria sack coach Francisco after poor La Liga results

Struggling Almeria have fired Francisco as coach and hope to have a new boss in charge for Friday's La Liga game at home to Real Madrid.

The decision was taken in the wake of Monday's 5-2 defeat at Eibar, a result which means the Andalucian team have taken just two points from their last eight games in La Liga.

Former Almeria forward and youth team coach Francisco took over the senior side in summer 2013, and guided the then newly promoted team to safety in his first campaign in charge.

Despite some encouraging displays early this season, the more recent bad run of results has led to the difficult decision being made, as confirmed in a club statement released Tuesday morning.

"Francisco is no longer coach of UD Almeria, a decision taken by the club," the statement said. "The session this Tuesday has been taken by physical preparation specialist Sergio Pardo.

"Meanwhile, Almeria will take measures to sign a new coach, so that he will already be on the bench for the next league game on Friday against Real Madrid at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

"Eight consecutive games without a win, in which the team has taken just two points, and the need to find a solution to end this run has lead UD Almeria to take this difficult decision.

"The club wishes to publicly thank Francisco for his professionalism, commitment and dedication, having been connected to the club for many years, first as a player and then as coach of the youth team and then senior side, who he kept in the Primera Division last season."

Almeria currently sit 17th in a very tight lower half of the table, on the same number of points as the three sides in the relegation zone -- Cordoba, Deportivo La Coruna and Elche.

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