Bölöni parts company with Sporting

Romanian coach Laszlo Bölöni will leave Sporting Clube de Portugal at the end of the season, the Portuguese Superliga club's board announced this afternoon.

Board offers thanks
"We [give] thanks [for] all the professionalism, competence and dedication of Mr Bölöni," read a statement from the board. "The process of choosing a new coach is already under way, and we will prepare [for] next season with care."

Triumphant season
Bölöni arrived in Portugal in summer 2001 after quitting his job as Romanian national coach. In 2001/02 he led Sporting to triumphant success in the league, Portuguese Cup and Portuguese Super Cup.

Season of struggle
However this season Sporting have struggled. Internazionale FC eliminated the Lisbon club in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round and domestically they have been overshadowed by FC Porto.

Cup shock
Sporting are currently a distant third place in the league behind Porto and SL Benfica and the 13-times cup winners also suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Associação Naval 1º de Maio in the Portuguese Cup last month.