Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Pune City has sacked head coach Miguel Angel Portugal after only three games in charge, said a report in Hindustan Times on Wednesday.
The report in the daily stated that the club is expected to make the announcement on Tomorrow.
A former Delhi Dynamos coach, Portugal was appointed to take over the reins from Ranko Popovic at Pune. But after three games in charge, the Spaniard has only led his side to one draw and two defeats – both of which have come in successive matches against Mumbai and Bengaluru FC.
Portugal’s last term as coach of the Delhi Dynamos had also ended in disappointment and although he was a coach for an entire season at the national capital, he failed to guide the Dynamos to a playoff berth. Delhi finished a lowly eighth in the 10-team table with just five victories in 18 matches, nine of which ended in defeats.
The daily reported that the club’s technical director and assistant coach Pradhyum Reddy will be announced as the interim head coach until further appointments.
A familiar name in the Indian football circuit, Reddy has earlier worked as an assistant under Ashley Westwood for Bengaluru FC from 2013-2016. During his time at the club, ‘The Blues’ won two I-League titles and a Federation Cup.
Reddy broke into the limelight after guiding Shillong Lajong to the I-League – having won the 2nd division I-League title – and helped them finish 10th in the 2011-12 season. On leaving Lajong owing to disputes with the club, Reddy was appointed coach of DSK Shivajians but jumped ships to join Bengaluru.
Image Source: ISL