Soccer - Villarreal sack coach Luis Garcia after nine games

Struggling La Liga side Villarreal have sacked coach Luis Garcia Plaza after nine games in charge, the club said on Tuesday. Garcia was only appointed by Villarreal, who have not won in La Liga since Nov. 25, last month after Javi Calleja was sacked.

However the 46-year-old managed one win in his nine games – a 2-0 Europa League victory over Spartak Moscow. Copa del Rey elimination by Espanyol followed, while no wins in the last six Liga games has seen the 2006 Champions League semi-finalists slip to 19th, four points from the safety zone.

The club have not yet announced who will take over but their third coach this season faces an uphill struggle to keep Villarreal in the top division, while they face a tricky tie against Sporting in the Europa League last 32 next month. (Reporting by Joseph Cassinelli; editing by Ken Ferris)