Valencia sack Celades after woeful run, sporting director resigns

Valencia have sacked head coach Albert Celades with immediate effect following a poor run of results.

Assistant coach Voro will take charge of the first team on an interim basis until the end of the 2019-20 LaLiga season. It will be his sixth spell at the helm.

Valencia have won just one of their five games since the league returned from its coronavirus-enforced stoppage, and they have been victorious twice in their past 13 outings in all competitions.

Celades, who took over from Marcelino in September, leaves the club eighth in LaLiga, eight points adrift of the Champions League places.

A Valencia statement read: "Valencia have communicated to Albert Celades his removal from his position as first-team coach, with immediate effect.

"The club wish to thank him publicly for his work and dedication during his time at the club - a period in which we achieved qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League and important victories at grounds where we had previously not won.

"The club also value his help and contribution since he took over as coach of the first team in a moment of difficulty, and wish him every success in his future endeavours."

Valencia, who face Athletic Bilbao next in LaLiga, confirmed soon after that sporting director Cesar Sanchez has resigned.

Media reports suggest Sanchez quit his post after he had told the squad earlier in the day that Celades was to keep his job, only for club owner Peter Lim to make the decision himself.