RCD Espanyol have sacked coach Sergio Gonzalez and replaced him with Romanian Constantin Galca after Saturday’s 1-0 loss at RC Celta de Vigo left them three points above the La Liga relegation zone.
Gonzalez, 39, a former Espanyol and RC Deportivo de La Coruna player, was in his second season in charge after being promoted from B team manager and led the club to a 10th-place finish in Spain’s top flight in his debut campaign.
Former Romania international Galca, who also played for the Barcelona-based club, has agreed a contract until the end of the season, Espanyol said on their Web site.
Photo: EPA
Galca, 43, who played at Espanyol with Gonzalez, as well as for a number of other Spanish clubs, went on to coach Romania’s under-17 side and last season led Steaua Bucharest to the Romanian league and cup double.
Espanyol, who reached the UEFA Cup final in 2006-2007, have been a near-constant presence in La Liga and were last relegated to the second tier in 1992-1993, before coming straight back up the following season.
Galca is to take over immediately and his first game in charge was due to be last night’s Copa del Rey round-of-32, second leg at home to Levante UD.
The La Liga rivals drew 1-1 in the first leg in Valencia.
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