Valladolid sack Mendilibar, promote Sanchez

Real Valladolid have sacked coach Jose Luis Mendilibar following a string of poor results and replaced him with reserve team coach Onesimo Sanchez, the Spanish club said Monday.

Valladolid drew 1-1 against Almeria on Sunday, leaving it 17th in the standings and just one point above the relegation zone, and they have won only three times in their last 31 league games.

“The club have decided to look for a drastic solution to a negative run of results that has gone on too long,” it said in a statement.

Mendilibar, 49, led Valladolid back to the top flight in 2007 during his first season with the club.

He is the seventh La Liga coach to lose his job this season following coaching changes at Atletico Madrid, Almeria, Racing Santander, Real Zaragoza, Xerez and Villarreal.