MADRID, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Liga Santander side Villarreal on Monday announced that they had sacked coach Fran Escriba who had been just over a season in charge.
Escriba stepped down after a 4-0 defeat away to Getafe on Monday in which his side conceded three goals from set pieces and gave a very poor image in the second half.
Nevertheless, the sacking was a surprise given that Villarreal had won 7 points from their last three league matches and won their opening Europa League tie after finishing fifth in the Liga Santander last season under Escriba's guidance.
In a post on the Villarreal website, the club thanked Escriba and his coaching team for their work and announced a replacement would be named "in the coming hours."
Fate decreed that Escriba who replaced Marcelino Garcia as Villarreal boss in August 2016, had to leave after a defeat to Getafe. Ironically, two seasons ago he lost his job at Getafe following a defeat to Villarreal.
Escriba was the second coach to be sacked in Spain this season after Alaves boss Luis Zubeldia lost his job a week ago after four straight defeats.
