Sevilla have dismissed boss Pablo Machin following their Europa League exit at the hands of Slavia Prague on Thursday, it has been confirmed.
Director of Football Joaquin Caparros will take charge of first-team affairs for Sunday’s trip to Espanyol and will be assisted by Paco Gallardo and Carlos Marchena.
The Andalusian club – who had won the title five times since 2006 – were eliminated 6-5 on aggregate by Slavia Prague, who came from 3-2 down in extra time to win 4-3 in the Czech capital.
Many fans of Los Rojiblancos have now called for Machin’s dismissal with the team also lagging in La Liga in sixth place.
Machin was appointed last summer from Girona and his side were top of La Liga in October but have since suffered a huge downturn in form.
The club have won just two of their last 11 league games and are without a win in their last ten La Liga matches away from home, losing five in a row.
“I am hurt, but my only focus is on raising the morale of my team,” Machin had told reporters after the defeat.
“We have a very important battle on Sunday (away to Espanyol) and we have to recover emotionally in time to compete at our level.
“Sometimes football is very cruel and this evening we have suffered the cruel part of the sport, and we are hurting.
“The nature of the late goal proves this is not our season, we have suffered many adversities and had the game finished one minute earlier – we would be hailed for overcoming this is adversity.
“I am tremendously disappointed and hurt.”
