Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon have sacked manager Domingos Paciencia after a series of below-par displays by the side.
The Lions were amongst the biggest spenders in the Primeira Liga last summer but failed to mount a title challenge after their form deteriorated in the second half of the season.
Sporting were riding high in the table during the opening exchanges of the campaign due to the goal scoring prowess of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ricky-van-Wolfswinkel-c31131 and the brilliant performances of Oguchi Onyewu, Stijn Schaars and Matias Fernandez.
However Van Wolfswinkel has been unable to emulate his tally since then, while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stijn-Schaars-c34229 and Matias Fernandez have also become peripheral figures at Estadio Jose Alvalade in recent weeks, which
places the club on 5th position behind Maritimo.
Although the Lisbon giants reiterated through president Godinho http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lopes-c22413 that Paciencia still had the vote of confidence from the officials and that he would not be given the boot anytime soon, the tactician was still sacked yesterday.
Sporting’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Maritimo seemed to have prompted his departure and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pinto-c30032 is set to take his place at the helm.
A statement from the side confirmed the change in management and wished Paciencia the best in his future endeavours.
"Elimination from the group stages of the Portuguese Cup and fifth position in the current Liga ZON Sagres campaign does not correspond with the administration’s objectives for the first season of its mandate."
"Furthermore, we would like to note that we have reached an agreement with coach Domingos Paciencia, who we would like to thank for his professional manner and dedication towards Sporting Clube de http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984. We wish him all the best in his future career.”
Sporting also revealed that Ricardo sa Pinto will be his replacement and will have contract valid until the June 2013.
The Portuguese outfit are currently out of the Portuguese Cup but are still in contention for the League Cup as well as the UEFA Europa League. While Europe is seemingly beyond their reach, they will be able to turn around their campaign if they finish in
4th place and bag a trophy along the way.
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