Valencia parts ways with Koeman

BEIJING, April 23 -- Ronald Koeman said he was proud of what he achieved at Valencia, after being sacked by the Primera Liga club six months into a two-and-a-half-year contract.

The former Dutch international was given his notice late on Monday night, 24 hours after the side suffered a 1-5 mauling against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.

"I am going, proud of having won a title as important as the Copa del Rey's and want to point out I have gained an experience but have lost something I was very enthusiastic about," Koeman said.

The side won its seventh Copa last Wednesday beating Getafe 3-1 in the final, but that was a rare highlight in a turbulent tenure at the east coast club.

He arrived at the beginning of November to replace Quique Sanchez Flores, who was sacked with the side struggling in the Champions League but only four points behind leader Real Madrid in the standings. The team went into freefall, finishing bottom of its Champions League group, and slipped out of the title race with four wins and six draws from 22 matches.

With the support of majority shareholder Juan Soler, Koeman controversially sidelined captain David Albelda, goalkeeper Santiago Canizares and winger Miguel Angel Angulo, making clear none of them would play in the first team again this season.

The club went on to splash 20 million euros (US$31.7 million) on two new midfielders Ever Banega and Hedwiges Maduro in the January transfer window but the side's form did not improve.

Disgruntled fans had been calling for Koeman to go, and chants against him could be heard as the team paraded the trophy at the end of last week's final.

President Agustin Morera made the costly decision to sack not only Koeman, but also his two assistants, sports director Miguel Angel Ruiz, and technical secretary Antonio Fernandez. Former player Juan Sanchez was appointed with a brief to start planning for next season, while another former player Salvador Gonzalez 'Voro' was put in charge of the team until the end of the current campaign.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)