Vincenzo Montella sacked by struggling Sevilla

The Italian had been in the job just four months but he has paid the price for a run of poor form since mid-March

have sacked Vincenzo Montella and confirmed the appointment of Joaquin Caparros as head coach for the remainder of the season.

Montella's dismissal was announced on Saturday, the Italian paying the price for a nine-match winless run in all competitions since his team’s famous victory over on March 13.

Following their triumph at Old Trafford, Sevilla have exited the Champions League at the hands of and slumped to seventh in , while they were thumped 5-0 by in last weekend's final.

Friday's reverse at the hand of relegation battlers was the final straw for Sevilla, who on Saturday confirmed Montella's sacking.

Sevilla cited poor form as the reason for Montella’s dismissal and have now tasked Caparros, who formerly managed the club between 2000 and 2005, with gaining qualification for next season’s .

"Sevilla have relieved Vincenzo Montella of his duties, after the bad run of form the team has picked up since their last win at Old Trafford on March 13," the club explained in a statement.

"Since then the Nervion team has gone nine games without winning, with five defeats, the last on Friday in the Ciutat de .

Montella lasted exactly four months in the Sevilla hotseat, replacing Eduardo Berizzo who in turn had lasted less than half a season in Andalucia after stepping into the vacancy left by Jorge Sampaoli's move to the national team.

The Italian managed 11 victories, seven draws and 10 defeats in his 28 matches in charge, with cup performances comfortably outstripping a disappointing La Liga record.

Under his charge Sevilla reached the Copa del Rey final and Champions League quarters, but have also fallen out of contention for a top-four spot.

Indeed, the club currently sit in eighth, three points behind sixth-placed who currently occupy the final qualifying berth for the Europa League.