Gili Landau has been removed as coach of Israeli champions Hapoel Kiryat Shmona FC on the eve of Thursday's UEFA Europa League Group I home game against Olympique Lyonnais.

The 54-year-old lasted just a few months in the job and will be replaced at the helm of the team seventh in the Israeli Premier League by his assistant Barak Bakhar. Capped six times by his country as a striker, Landau spent his entire playing career at Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC before briefly coaching the club in 2004. He left Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC to succeed Ran Ben Shimon in charge of title winners Kiryat Shmona in May.

Bakhar, 33, represented Kiryat Shmona as a defender before moving into coaching. Kiryat Shmona kicked off their Group I campaign with a creditable 1-1 draw away to last season's beaten finalists Athletic Club.