The coach of champions AEL Limassol was a surprise departure on Monday leaving only days before a crunch Europa League encounter with Turkish side Fenerbahce, the club said.
Pambos Christodoulou, 45, parted company with the Limassol team after securing a slender 2-1 league win against Salamina at the weekend and prior to Thursday’s home game against Fenerbahce – billed as one of the biggest in the club’s history.
A brief statement on AEL’s website said the board had “ended its cooperation by mutual consent with the team’s coach and his technical staff”.
Although it did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure, the club “warmly thanked” Christodoulou for his contribution in winning the title and “bringing joy” to the fans.
Christodoulou took AEL to their first league title for 44 years last season but failed to make it to the Champions League group stage after losing to Anderlecht at the last hurdle.
According to media speculation former Porto player and Braga coach Jorge Paulo Costa Almeida is being lined up as a swift replacement.
AEL currently lie fourth in the table following a string of below-par performances.
In their last Europa League game AEL were hammered 5-1 away to Marseille that followed a credible 0-0 home draw with Mönchengladbach.
Cyprus Weekly