Panathinaikos fire Dutch coach ten Cate

Panathinaikos on Tuesday fired Dutch coach Henk ten Cate, with the club appointing Greece Under-21 manager Nikos Nioplias as his successor.

Ten Cate, who had six months left to run on his contract, was given his marching orders after talks with Panathinaikos president Nikos Pateras.

The former Chelsea assistant manager said in a statement: “It has been an honour for me to cooperate with Panathinaikos and the results support my work.

“I have laid the groundwork for this team. I respect the fact that some people may not be happy with the general picture, but my assistants and I have given everything to succeed.

“The president’s decision will not affect our relationship and the friendship we have developed. I would also like to thank all Panathinaikos fans for their support and wish the team to win the title.”

Ten Cate, 55, failed to gain a league title last season and leaves with the club lying second, one point adrift of arch rivals Olympiakos, in the Greek first division.

Panathinaikos are still active in the Europa League and Greek Cup.

His overall record since joining in June 2008 stands at 45 victories, 17 draws and 13 losses.

Panathinaikos was ten Cate’s first full managerial position.

He was assistant at Chelsea under Avram Grant in 2007/2008 and at Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard in 2005/2006 when the Catalan giants won the Champions League and La Liga.

He also served as manager of Ajax in 2007.

Ten Cate’s replacement, Nioplias, issued an ambitious statement of intent, declaring: “My aim is to achieve with the team as a coach what I have achieved as a player – win titles.”

The 45-year-old leaves the Greece Under-21 squad on top of the European Championship group. In 2007 he led the Under-19 team to the final of its own European Championship.

Nioplias’ assistant will be former Panathinaikos striker Krzysztof Warzycha.