Barcelona has fired head coach Ronald Koeman after a slow start, the club announced on Wednesday.
It took less than three months after Lionel Messi’s departure for Koeman to be fired as the the Catalan club’s struggles continued.
Barcelona announced Koeman’s firing shortly after a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Wednesday.
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The loss followed a 2-1 home loss to rival Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico at Camp Nou.
Barca has won only two of their last seven league games under Ronald Koeman including Levante and Valencia.
Koeman said in a post-match interview on Wednesday he didn’t know if his future with the club was at risk. He will soon find out.
Captain of the side Sergio Busquets had said Koeman shouldn’t be the only one to blame for the team’s poor performances.
“We are all on the same boat,” the midfielder said after the match.
A club statement released after midnight in Spain on Wednesday read:
“FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach.
“FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”
The president of the club, Joan Laporta, informed him of the decision after the defeat against Rayo Vallecano.
Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.
Koeman leaves the club in ninth position in the Spanish league league with 15 points from 10 matches.
Barcelona B coach Sergi Barjuan could take charge of the first team as an interim coach, with games against Alaves, Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League, and Celta Vigo to come before the next international break.
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