Sevilla have sacked their UEFA Europa League winning coach, Jose Luis Mendilibar, after just eight matches of the 2023/24 La Liga season.
The Andalusians’ 2-2 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening means they have managed just two victories in their opening games of the season and sit just two points above the bottom three and the relegation places, albeit with a game-in-hand; though that game-in-hand is away to Atletico Madrid.
For much of last season, Sevilla found themselves in a relegation battle after churning through both Julen Lopetegui and then Jorge Sampaoli. The very straightforward and straight talking Mendilibar was appointed during the March international break and his simplification of tactical plans and instructions allowed Sevilla to launch themselves into the middle-of-the-table.
Combined with an improvement domestically, they also managed two-legged victories over both Manchester United and Juventus in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League before a penalty shootout win over Roma in the final of that competition in Budapest.
Mendilibar, as a result, was rewarded with a one-year deal at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan but things have remained uncertain and unconvincing off the pitch after a couple of poor transfer windows led by their former Sporting Director, Monchi, who is now at Aston Villa.
Mendilibar, 62, has been managing since 1994 and has previously coached, Arratia, Athletic Club’s youth side, Basconia, Athletic Club’s B team, Basconia again, Aurrera, Lanzarote, Eibar, Athletic Club, Real Valladolid, Osasuna, Levante, Eibar again and Alaves before his short stint down in the south with Sevilla.
He was in charge of 28 games with Sevilla, winning ten, drawing 11 and losing seven but has managed just two victories in 11 matches across all competitions.
Oliver Glasner, who won the 2022 UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, left the German club over the summer and is one of the leading candidates for the job.
