Sevilla have shown manager Javier Garcia Pimienta the door after Friday's 1-0 defeat at Valencia pushed the club's losing streak to four games. The decision came Sunday, with patience finally running out at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
It's been a disappointing campaign for the Andalusian side. The seven-time Europa League champions currently sit in 13th place with just 36 points from 31 matches. That's a far cry from their usual European qualification spots.
More concerning is their proximity to the drop zone. Sevilla now find themselves only 7 points clear of relegation trouble. For a club of their stature and history, that's simply unacceptable.
Brief Tenure Comes to an Abrupt End
Garcia Pimienta only joined Sevilla last July on a two-year contract. He replaced Quique Sanchez Flores with hopes of bringing stability to the club. Unfortunately, results haven't matched expectations.
"Sevilla would like to thank Garcia Pimienta for his work over these months, and his professionalism, wishing him best luck in future endeavours," the club said in their official statement. It's a polite way of saying things just weren't working out.
The 50-year-old coach had previously done excellent work at Las Palmas. He guided them to promotion in the 2022-23 season and then kept them in the top flight the following year. That impressive track record wasn't enough to save his job at the more demanding Sevilla.
What's Next for Sevilla?
Sevilla now face a critical home match against Deportivo Alaves on April 20th. Whoever takes the helm will need to secure points quickly to ease relegation concerns.
The timing of the dismissal gives the club's hierarchy about a week to find a replacement. Betting markets are already active with potential candidates, with several experienced LaLiga managers likely in the frame.
For bettors, Sevilla's matches now represent an interesting proposition. Will there be a new manager bounce, or could the uncertainty further damage their form? Their upcoming fixture against Alaves suddenly becomes much more unpredictable.
Sevilla's European pedigree makes their current situation all the more surprising. After years of competing in continental competitions, the club now faces a battle to preserve their top-flight status.
The new manager will have seven remaining matches to secure Sevilla's LaLiga status. With matches against fellow strugglers still to come, their destiny remains in their own hands. However, the pressure at the Sanchez Pizjuan will be enormous.
For a club accustomed to competing for European places, simply avoiding relegation would represent a significant disappointment this season. But first, they need to stop the bleeding and end this alarming losing streak.
