Sporting Gijon sack Preciado

Sporting Gijon have sacked manager Manuel Preciado in the wake of Sunday’s 5-1 thrashing at Real Sociedad in La Liga.

With the club languishing in 19th place and without a win in seven league games, an emotional club president Manuel Vega-Arango announced Preciado’s dismissal on Tuesday.

“Maybe it’s the same thing, but I don’t want to call it firing or sacking, I want to call it a change on the bench,” Vega-Arango said.

Preciado, 54, was one of La Liga’s most charismatic figures and was revered at Gijon, having guided the club back to the top flight at the end of the 2007/08 campaign for the first time since 1998.

He had been at the helm since 2006, making him the longest serving coach in La Liga, but with only 18 points in 20 matches this season, the board decided change was needed.

Preciado’s assistant Inaki Tejada is expected to take charge for Sunday’s game against Osasuna.

It has been reported former Getafe coach Michel, who is currently out of work, is in line to fill the post permanently.