Former Wales boss Coleman sacked by China's Hebei

Pulse News Agency International by AFP

May 15, 2019 10:02 AM

Former Wales manager Chris Coleman was sacked as coach of struggling Hebei China Fortune on Wednesday after the club's fans demanded his removal.

Former Wales boss Chris Coleman has been sacked by Hebei, with the CSL side languishing one place off the bottom of the table

The 48-year-old's side have won only once in nine Chinese Super League (CSL) games this season and languish one place off the bottom of the table.

A Hebei team containing former Barcelona star Javier Mascherano lost 3-2 at home to mid-table Henan Jianye at the weekend and had a player sent off for the fourth time in all competitions this year.

Angry fans held aloft a banner during Saturday's defeat that said in English: "Hello Mr Coleman, please go home! You're fired!!!"

Above that in Chinese it read: "Coleman, your mum wants you home for dinner."

Coleman, who took Sunderland down into England's third tier in his previous job, was appointed as a replacement for West Ham United-bound Manuel Pellegrini in June last year.

But despite guiding Hebei away from the relegation zone last year, he won only seven of his 28 games in total.

"After friendly negotiation and agreement reached between the two parties, with immediate effect, Mr Chris Coleman will no longer serve as head coach of Hebei China Fortune Football Club," the club said in a statement on the Twitter-like Weibo.

"We sincerely thank Coleman for his hard work and contribution to the team and wish him all the best in his future work and life."

Coleman's wife Charlotte, a television presenter, defended his record and said in a tweet that was later deleted: "We hoped to leave before the season started but were not allowed to, after losing players and not being allowed to sign any replacements."

Coleman was a defender for Crystal Palace, Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham during his playing days, and later became the manager of then-Premier League side Fulham.

He spent four years in the hot seat at Craven Cottage and then had a spell with Real Sociedad in Spain.

But he enjoyed his most successful time in charge of his native Wales, taking them to a shock semi-final place at Euro 2016.

His sacking at Hebei comes as little surprise.

After a 2-0 defeat to Marouane Fellaini's Shandong Luneng earlier this month, Hebei issued an open letter to fans apologising and saying that it has been "the toughest start (to a season) in the club's history".

"We let you down and we can't make any excuses for the recent performances," said a statement.

"We have to say to you: sorry."

Hebei, who are above rock-bottom Beijing Renhe only on goal difference in the CSL, travel to seventh-placed Tianjin Teda on Sunday.

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Hebei fans had voiced their anger over the team's poor performances under Chris Coleman AFP

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Pulse News Agency International by AFP