Sports
ASTON Villa have sacked manager Steven Gerrard.
The club’s owners unseated Gerrard in the immediate aftermath of the 3-0 loss in the English Premier League (EPL) at Fulham.
The Birmingham outfit have won just two of 11 league outings this term, with Gerrard paying the price for poor form and results.
Gerrard led Villa to a 14th-place finish last term but had been expected to push the midlands club higher up the table in the new campaign.
Now though, the ex-Liverpool and England midfielder finds himself out of work after a chastening loss at Craven Cottage.
“Aston Villa football club can confirm that head coach Steven Gerrard has left the club with immediate effect,” read a statement.
“We will like to thank Steven for his hard work and commitment and wish him well for the future.”
Gerrard admitted he was in a “very difficult position” straight after Aston Villa’s hefty loss in south west London.
The former Rangers manager insisted he would not quit his role but was shortly given no choice in the matter as Aston Villa’s board acted swiftly to remove him.
The likes of former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino and ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will be eyed keenly as his replacement by Aston Villa.
But, whether the Birmingham club could entice either man to Villa Park remains to be seen.
Harrison Reed, Aleksandar Mitrovic and a Tyrone Mings own goal handed Fulham their comprehensive win in London on Thursday night.
Aston Villa had Douglas Luiz sent off just past the hour, on an evening to forget in the capital.
“I’ve been sending messages to the fans for the last few weeks because I certainly share their frustration and their pain,” said Gerrard in his post-match press conference.
“I’m someone who is honest. I know that they’re not enjoying it at the moment ——I’m certainly not. So, we’ll see what happens moving forward.
“But you know and I know I’m in a very difficult position right now.
“We’ll see what happens moving forward. But football is in my DNA and quitting is certainly not. So, we’ll see what happens moving forward.”(dpa/NAN)
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Tags: Aleksandar Mitrovic ASTON Villa Fulham Mauricio Pochettino STEVEN Gerrard Thomas Tuchel
