Zico ousted by Olympiacos
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Article summary
Olympiacos FC have parted company with head coach Zico only four months after his appointment, leaving Božidar Bandović to take the reins of the Greek titleholders for the second time this campaign.
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Olympiacos FC have parted company with head coach Zico, leaving Božidar Bandović to take charge of the Greek champions for the second time this season.
Brief reign
Zico had only been at the Piraeus club since 16 September, when he succeeded Temuri Ketsbaia – who had himself been appointed four months earlier – with Bandović having taken charge of Olympiacos on UEFA Champions League Matchday 1 following Ketsbaia's departure. Zico's reign began with a 2-1 derby win against AEK Athens FC and the Brazilian steered Olympiacos into the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, where they face FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Yet the club have found the going tougher on the domestic front, winning just one of their last four matches to slip seven points behind Super League leaders Panathinaikos FC.
Long association
Bandović, who spent a season at Olympiacos during a lengthy playing career that also included spells at FK Crvena Zvezda and PAOK FC among others, returned to the club in 2006 to take up a scouting role. The 40-year-old Serbian, who will be assisted by Andreas Niniadis in his new position, enjoyed some success in his brief spell in charge in September, leading Olympiacos to victories against AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Champions League and PAOK in the Super League.
