GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre is no longer the coach of relegation-threatened Chivas Guadalajara.
The former Mexico manager became Chivas coach for the second time in October 2014 and steered the team to safety from relegation and into the semifinals of the Clausura 2015.
This season, however, Chivas have started poorly with seven points from eight games of the Apertura tournament.
Argentine Matias Almeyda is in talks to take over over for the sacked coach.
"The results haven't been what the team requires, which obliges [us] to make this difficult decision and take another road," read a statement from the club's parent company Omnilife on Monday.
De la Torre leaves the club above only Dorados de Sinaloa in the relegation table, which is worked out on a points-to-games-played basis over the past three years.
"Chepo," who was coach when Chivas won their last title in 2006, turned up at training in Guadalajara on Monday morning, but didn't coach the squad, and instead bid farewell to the players.
The former Chivas player was let go by club president Nestor de la Torre, who is his brother and who persuaded him to return to the club last summer. Nestor's position at the club has not yet been ratified.
On Sunday, former River Plate coach Almeyda arrived in Guadalajara, accompanied by a large amount of baggage and his backroom staff. The 41-year-old Argentine told the awaiting media that negotiations to become Chivas coach were already advanced.
"I met with the president, I had a meeting an hour ago and it was about football," said Almeyda. "We exchanged footballing ideas and now there is one meeting left and we'll see how it goes."
Almeyda said Chivas are "one of the biggest clubs in the world," highlighting their policy of only fielding Mexican players.
Seven head coaches have now come and gone from Chivas since the start of 2013. Almeyda appears set to be number eight and the 25th (including interns) since owner Jorge Vergara took over the club in 2002.
Former Argentina international Almeyda enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning the Copa Libertadores and three first division titles with River Plate and Serie A with Lazio in 2000.
As a coach, he guided River Plate to promotion from Argentina's second division in 2012 and accomplished the same feat with Banfield in 2014. Almeyda's record in the first division, however, has not been as positive and he has no experience either playing or coaching in Mexico.