Barcelona sack Serra Ferrer
Monday, 23 April 2001 21:28Spanish giants Barcelona have sacked their coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer following their humiliating 3-1 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Osasuna last weekend during which three of their players were sent off. Club president Joan Gaspart revealed that Serra Ferrer had been fired following a three-hour meeting of the board of directors today.
"I take full responsibility for this decision," said Gaspart, who hired Serra Ferrer when he took over as club president last summer. "It was my decision to appoint him, although all the other candidates pledged to do so as well, and it's my decision to let him go. I met with Serra Ferrer face to face earlier on Monday. He was not in agreement with this decision. It's the saddest day in my career as Barcelona president."
Carles Rexach, the club's technical director, will assume control over team affairs until the end of the season, aided by Jose Ramon Alexanco, a former Barca captain in the 1980s. Rexach has already enjoyed a previous term as Barca's caretaker boss - he took temporary charge back in 1886 following the departure of Johan Cruyff.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
