Sevilla have announced that they have appointed Diego Alonso as their new head coach.
Over the past 48 hours, the La Liga outfit revealed that they had parted company with Jose Luis Mendilibar after just 28 matches charge.
Despite guiding Sevilla to a surprise Europa League triumph in 2023-24, the decision was made to remove the 62-year-old from his role in the dugout after a poor start to the season.
Sevilla have accumulated just eight points from as many matches in Spain's top flight, leaving them in 14th position in the table heading into the international break.
However, club officials have wasted no time in finding a replacement with Alonso being handed the reins at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
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The former Uruguayan striker is no stranger to life in Spain having represented the likes of Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Racing Santander and Malaga during his playing days.
His managerial career has been spent away from Europe, though, with notable stints in Mexico at Pachuca and Monterrey earning him a chance at Inter Miami.
An uninspiring spell at the MLS side saw him win just seven of 24 matches, but he still secured a chance to lead Uruguay at the 2022 World Cup, his nation failing to qualify for the knockout stages.
The 48-year-old will now attempt to revive a talented Sevilla squad, starting work at the club with immediate effect on a contract until the end of the season.
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A club statement read: "We are delighted to announce that Diego Alonso has reached an agreement for the Uruguayan to become our new coach until the end of the current season.
"Alonso arrives at Nervion with his latest experience of having coached the national team of his country, with a coaching career that began at Club Atletico Bella Vista in Uruguay in 2011, where he managed 25 games, securing nine victories."
Alonso faces somewhat of a baptism of fire at Sevilla, with his first fixture coming in La Liga on October 21 when Real Madrid are the visitors to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
Three days later, Sevilla host Arsenal in the Champions League in what is a crucial match after draws were recorded against Lens and PSV Eindhoven.
Darren Plant
