BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Chris Coleman has been sacked as manager of Chinese Super League (CSL) side Hebei China Fortune on Wednesday, just 11 months after he succeeded Manuel Pellegrini last June.
The former Wales boss, who guided Wales to the semifinals of the European Championships 2016 and coached Fulham and Sunderland in the English Premier League, becomes the first coach fired in the 2019 Chinese Super League season.
Coleman's dismissal was posted on social media on Wednesday, with the club, having claimed just a single victory in nine CSL fixtures so far this season, struggling in the relegation zone.
"The two sides have reached an agreement after friendly negotiations. 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.
Hebei fans lifted a banner after the club suffered a 3-2 defeat by Henan Jianye last Sunday and slipped a place to 15th in the 16-team league, saying "Hello Mr. Coleman, please go home! You're fired!"
The 48-year-old Welshman has been replaced by caretaker coach Xie Feng, who will take charge of Heibei's next game on Sunday against Tianjin Teda.
