La Liga club Villarreal sack head coach Javi Calleja

La Liga club Villarreal on Monday decided to part ways with coach Javi Calleja after winning one of their last nine league games, which has left them three points above the relegation zone, the club said in a statement.

Villarreal has lost seven of 15 league matches and are currently placed in the 17^th position with 14 points after 15 games.

“Villarreal has decided to rescind Javi Calleja’s contract as first team coach. The club would like to thank the coach for his work, dedication and professionalism since taking over last season,” read the club statement.

Thanks for everything, Javi Calleja. ? pic.twitter.com/glTRyNzP7n

— Villarreal CF English (@Eng_Villarreal) December 10, 2018

A former Villarreal midfielder, Calleja took over as a coach following the sacking of Fran Escriba in September last year. He led the Yellow Submarines to a fifth-place finish last season and brought back Europa League football at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

But the 40-year-old, who had after retirement joined as head coach of the Villarreal reserves team before being promoted to the senior team, has failed to deliver in the ongoing campaign winning just three league games so far. Villarreal also needs to beat Spartak Moskva in their final Europa League group stage game to progress into the knockout round.

The club also said in the statement that Calleja’s successor will be announced “in the coming hours.”

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