CARSON, Calif. – After a season that saw them finish in last place in the Western Conference, Chivas USA announced on Wednesday that they have parted ways with first-year head coach Martín Vásquez.

The decision comes just four days after the Goats’ final regular-season game, a 4-1 loss at home to the Chicago Fire.

Chivas USA finished the season with an 8-18-4 record and failed to make the MLS postseason for the first time since 2005. The Goats posted two road wins (tied for lowest in all of MLS), seven losses at home (second-lowest in all of MLS) and 31 goals scored all season (second-lowest in all of MLS).

“This was a difficult decision for our organization to make,” Chivas USA vice president of soccer operations Stephen Hamilton said in a statement. “Everyone at Chivas USA has a great deal of respect for Martín, both as a person and a coach. Unfortunately, after this difficult season came to a close, we decided to move in a different direction.”

Vásquez was named head coach of the Red-and-White on Dec. 2, 2009, after having served as an assistant coach under Jürgen Klinsmann at European powerhouse Bayern Munich during the 2008-09 season. He had previously served as an assistant coach with Cal Poly Pomona, the San Diego Spirit, the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA during the club’s first three seasons.

The Mexico-born Vásquez's short tenure as the Goats’ head coach was one marked by change. Since his arrival at the club last December, 17 players on the roster have left the team due to retirement, release, transfer, loan or the 2010 Expansion Draft. Conversely, 14 new faces have arrived in their stead.

The team also failed to win back-to-back games at any point this year, and finished the season with six losses in its final seven games.

Under Vásquez, the Red-and-White made a run to the last four of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, which was their first-ever semifinal appearance in any major tournament.

Chivas USA will begin searching for a new head coach immediately as the club prepares for the Nov. 24 MLS Expansion Draft and the 2011 MLS SuperDraft in January.

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