Dutchman Frank de Boer fired by Inter Milan after 14 matches
Inter Milan fired Dutchman Frank de Boer as coach on Tuesday after less than three months in charge during which the former European champions lost seven of their 14 competitive games. Inter, who dropped to 12th in the Serie A table following Sunday's 1-0 loss to Sampdoria, said youth team coach Stefano Vecchi would be in charge of the team for Thursday's Europa League match at Southampton."The club thanks Frank and his staff for the work they have undertaken at the and wish them the best for the future," Inter, who have lost four of their last five league games, said in a statement.Inter, traditionally one of Italy's three biggest clubs alongside Juventus and city rivals AC Milan, appointed the 46-year-old De Boer on Aug. 9, two weeks before the start of the season, after Robert Mancini left by mutual consent.The club said that an announcement on De Boer's replacement would be made later. Italian media reported that Stefano Pioli, the former Lazio coach, was the favourite.De Boer was Inter's eighth coach since Jose Mourinho left in 2010 after winning the Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia treble.Paul Pogba double lifts Man United, Inter joy for De BoerPaul Pogba repaid some of his world record transfer fee with two goals as Manchester United rediscovered their early-season shine, cruising to a 4-1 Europa League win over Fenerbahce to go top of their group on Thursday. The others were Rafael Benitez, Leonardo, Gian Piero Gasperini, Claudio Ranieri, Andrea Stramaccioni, Walter Mazzarri and Mancini. Gasperini's reign was even shorter than De Boer's, lasting five matches.Inter are enduring their fifth successive season without Champions League football and have won one trophy since Mourinho's departure, the Coppa Italia in 2011.Former Netherlands defender De Boer had no previous experience of playing or coaching in Italy. He had previously been in charge of Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam for six years during which he won four league titles.His overall record of five wins, two draws and seven defeats included shock losses to Hapoel Beer Sheva and Sparta Prague in the Europa League and at home to Cagliari in Serie A.Inter were sold to a consortium led by Indonesian business tycoon Erick Thohir in October 2013 by Massimo Moratti, who had owned the club since 1995.In June, Chinese electronics retailer Suning Commerce Group Co Ltd bought nearly 70 percent of Inter for 270 million euros, although Thohir stayed on as club president...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.