APOEL and Donis go their separate ways

Cypriot champions APOEL FC have parted company with coach Giorgos Donis.

Level on points with Apollon Limassol FC at the top of the First Division, APOEL were held 1-1 at home on Monday by bottom team Ayia Napa FC, a result that extended their winless run to four games in all competitions. Donis, 45, had come under increasing pressure in the last month following a 4-4 draw against AEK Larnaca FC and a 2-1 loss to Ermis Aradippou FC, the Nicosia side's first league defeat of the season.

In a statement, APOEL said they had "come to a mutual agreement with Giorgos Donis for the termination of his contract". The former Blackburn Rovers FC and Panathinaikos FC winger – who won the Greek Cup with Larissa FC in 2007 and has also been in charge of AEK Athens FC, Atromitos FC and PAOK FC – succeeded Paulo Sérgio in October last year and led APOEL to their first domestic double since 1996.

Donis then guided APOEL into the UEFA Champions League group stage, where they finished bottom of a section containing FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AFC Ajax. He said: "I will always be a friend of this club. That is football. My departure was the best thing for me and the club."