Zenit St Petersburg sack Advocaat

Zenit St Petersburg have sacked their Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, the club announced Monday.

The 2007 Russian champions’ defeat at home to minnows Tomsk on Sunday was the last straw for the Zenit management, who decided to sack the 61-year-old former Glasgow Rangers coach.

“After a series of poor matches in the Russian league the Zenit board of directors decided to sack the club manager,” the club’s statement said.

“Zenit achieved a run of success under Advocaat including the 2007 domestic league title and UEFA Cup win in 2008.”

“But after Advocaat decided to take over the Belgium national side the club’s performance and results have seriously deteriorated. The fans and the club management are not satisfied with Zenit’s current place in the table.”

Zenit reserve team coach Anatoly Davydov, who led Zenit to the 1999 Russian national cup, was named the club’s interim coach.