MADRID, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Athletic Club Bilbao on Tuesday sacked first team coach Eduardo Berizzo and replaced him with B-team coach Gaizka Garitano.
Berizzo, who has also coached Celta Vigo and Sevilla in Spain, was sacked just hours after his side were beaten 3-0 away to Levante in what was arguably their worst performance of the season on Monday night.
The result means Athletic remain third from bottom of the Liga Santander with just one win in 14 matches this season. That win came thanks to an injury time goal in their first match of the campaign and the subsequent run of 13 league matches without a victory since then is the longest winless run in the club's history.
"Athletic Club has decided to terminate the contract that united its coach Eduardo Berizzo with the entity."
"Athletic Club would like to thank Eduardo Berizzo and all his technical staff for the effort and dedication shown during their stay in the club and wishes them the best in their personal and professional future."
"From tomorrow, Wednesday December 5th, Gaizka Garitano will be responsible for managing the first team of Athletic Club," explained the club's website.
It is not certain whether or not Garitano, who coached Eibar, Valladolid and Deportivo La Coruna prior to taking over at Bilbao Athletic (Athletic B) in June 2017, will be a permanent or just a temporary replacement for Berizzo. Athletic's club members have to elect a new club President on December 27th and the candidates for the presidency could prefer to look for their own candidates to coach the club on a long-term basis.
