16 December 2023 , 21:41
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Sevilla are searching for their fifth permanent manager since the beginning of last season after sacking boss Diego Alonso immediately after their 3-0 defeat at home to Getafe.
There were just 25 minutes between the full-time whistle mercifully sounding in Seville and the La Liga club announcing Alonso's departure on Saturday evening. Alonso failed to win a single one of his 12 La Liga and Champions League games in charge after replacing Jose Luis Mendilibar in October.
Sevilla this week finished rock bottom of their Champions League group, which included Arsenal, and have slumped to 16th in the La Liga table. That's two places above the relegation zone, but only goal difference keeps star defender Sergio Ramos and his team-mates above the drop spots.
Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood was among the scorers as Getafe thrashed the Europa League holders, who went behind after just five minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. By half-time it was 2-0, with Alonso's men unable to mount a response in the second period before a penalty from Greenwood wrapped up the away side's win.
Sevilla sporting director Victor Orta, formerly of Leeds, said in a statement: "We have dismissed Diego Alonso with all the pain in our hearts. I think there have been many circumstances that have not been consistent with the work done and this has not been consistent with the results.
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"Unfortunately in football the first thing that breaks is the coach. I am here to announce the dismissal and not put you through the unpleasantness of the interviews. Starting tomorrow we will try to work to incorporate a coach as soon as possible for the Granada game.
"We only think about returning this team that tries and cannot find the results to the path of victory. Thank Diego for his work, with extreme honesty and good quality of work. The results have not been given and only this language is understood. I wish him all the luck in the world and we are already working to try to win Tuesday's game [away to Granada]."
Diego Alonso has been sacked by Sevilla (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)Get involved! Who should Sevilla hire as their next manager? Give us your pick in the comments section.
Alonso did manage to record two victories in the Copa del Rey, as Sevilla beat sixth-tier minnows Quintanar before Atletico Astorga of the fifth division. It started positively for the former Uruguay boss - a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid - but his reign never took off, with experienced stars such as Ramos and Ivan Rakitic sinking towards the bottom of La Liga.