Valencia fires coach Quique Sanchez Flores

Oct 29, 2007 - 3:02 PM VALENCIA, Spain (Ticker) -- Spanish powerhouse Valencia on Monday fired coach Quique Sanchez Flores.

The decision was taken after a meeting Sunday night in the wake of the team's 3-0 loss to Sevilla in the Primera Liga.

Valencia has lost four of its last five games in all competitions and suffered a shocking loss to Norwegian club Rosenborg in the Champions League last week.

But despite the struggles, Sanchez insisted he left the club with his "head held very high."

"I am going convinced that we were prepared to achieve our objectives, but we will accept the decision with good will if it is the solution for Valencia," the 42-year-old Sanchez said. "I leave with my head held very high, like all good Valencianistas, wishing Valencia the best for the future.

"I have a slight feeling of pain, but also one of relief. They have been very difficult years, rather lonely ones. I lose a job, but I get my life back."

A statement issued by the club on Monday read: "The Valencia board met and after analyzing the technical report given by the sporting director (Miguel Angel Ruiz) on the situation of the first team, which was considered irreversible after the latest matches in the league and Champions League, have taken the decision to dismiss the coach Quique Sanchez Flores."

Sanchez took charge of Valencia in the summer of 2005 after replacing Claudio Ranieri, and led the team to a third-place finish in his first season and a top-four spot last year.

He leaves with Valencia in fourth spot in La Liga, four points behind pacesetters Real Madrid. At the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, Los Che are third in Group B on three points, behind Rosenborg and Chelsea.