Fernández says goodbye to Celta

RC Celta de Vigo coach Victor Fernández has left the Spanish first division club by mutual consent.

'Unforgettable four years'
Fernández said he wanted to thank the club, their players and fans for what he termed "an unforgettable four years", but admitted that he had decided some time ago that he would be leaving the club. "I realised that my time at Celta had come to an end and that it would have not have been wise to have stayed another year," he said.

Fifth-place finish
Celta president Horacio Gómez said: "Victor Fernández embodies the four most successful years in the history of this club and I am very sad that he will be leaving." After joining Celta from CD Tenerife in 1998, Fernández helped the Galician team become one of the most consistent and attractive sides in the Primera División. Celta finished fifth this season to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the fifth season in succession.

Betis link
Fernández, who led Real Zaragoza to triumph in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, has been linked with a possible move to Real Betis Balompié after coach Juande Ramos made it clear last week that he was unlikely to remain at the Seville-based club next term.

European highlights
Fernández's achievements at the Balaídos stadium include taking the Galicians to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup three seasons in a row, with impressive victories over sides with more European experience such as Liverpool FC, Juventus FC and Aston Villa FC.

Cup upset
They never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage, however, and were surprisingly eliminated in the second round of this season's competition at the hands of Czech side FC Slovan Liberec. Celta reached the final of last season's King's Cup, but were deprived of the first trophy in their history after a surprise 3-1 defeat by Zaragoza.