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February 3, 2013

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Roma dismisses coach Zeman

ITALIAN Serie A club AS Roma sacked manager Zdenek Zeman yesterday after a 2-4 loss at home to Cagliari on Friday night.

"AS Roma announces that it has relieved Mr Zdenek Zeman of his position as coach of the first team," a club statement said. "The team has been temporarily entrusted to Mr Aurelio Andreazzoli."

Friday's defeat was the latest in a line of embarrassing results for Roma, which has yet to win this year and finds itself in eighth place on 34 points, nine behind local rival Lazio in the third Champions League spot

It is also three points behind AC Milan, which is fifth and occupies the second Europa League slot.

Zeman was brought in with much fanfare to replace Luis Enrique in the close season after the Spaniard presided over a disappointing season.

However, the Czech-born coach has failed to challenge for the title or the Champions League places, both season's objectives.

While its attacking play can often be exceptional, his team has conceded 42 goals so far this Serie A season, more than any other side apart from 17th-placed Pescara.

The fans finally turned on him after Cagliari's fourth goal on Friday, with hardcore fans in the Olympic Stadium displaying a banner that read "Boemo (Bohemian, Zeman's nickname) out", before turning their backs on the game.

After a meeting in Rome yesterday morning between club directors and American owner James Pallotta, the decision was taken to relieve the coach of his duties.

Former France coach Laurent Blanc was recently linked to the job in reports in the Italian media.




 

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