Valencia cut short Djukić's reign
Monday, December 16, 2013
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Valencia CF have announced that Miroslav Djukić will not be continuing at the helm of the UEFA Europa League challengers who currently sit ninth in the Liga standings.
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Miroslav Djukić's reign as Valencia CF coach has ended with the 47-year-old departing the UEFA Europa League challengers little over six months since taking charge of the team he once played for.
Sunday's 3-0 Liga defeat at Club Atlético de Madrid left the Spanish east-coast side ninth in the standings and with just one win from their last four top-flight outings. Valencia's league form this season – six victories in 16 matches – has contrasted with their European fortunes: they came first in UEFA Europa League Group A to earn a round of 32 tie with FC Dynamo Kyiv in February.
Djukić had replaced Ernesto Valverde at the Valencia helm in June, when he said he was "ready to do great things" with the club where he won Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup honours as a central defender. A former Yugoslav international, Djukić enjoyed previous coaching experience with Real Valladolid CF, Serbia's Under-21s, FK Partizan, R. Excelsior Mouscron and Hércules CF.