Olympique Lyonnais have parted ways with new coach Sylvinho just nine matches into his debut season as a senior coach, derby defeat proving the final straw for the club's directors after a seven-match winless run.
Sylvinho arrived at the Rhône valley club at the behest of newly enshrined sporting director and club legend Juninho in the summer, but on Monday Olympique Lyonnais announced that the Brazilian would be on the way out.
"OL have decided to implement a procedure that could lead to the termination of Mr Sylvio Mendes Campo Júnior's employment contract," read the club's statement. "During this procedure, senior-team training will be run by Mr Gérald Baticle, under the direction of the sporting director Juninho."
Early-season promise
OL got off to an excellent start under former Arsenal and Barcelona man Sylvinho, scoring nine unanswered goals in wins away to AS Monaco (3-0) and at home to Angers SCO (6-0). However, defeats at home to PSG and Nantes, capped off by a last-gasp Rhône derby defeat in Saint-Etienne on Sunday night - which left the club with the second-biggest budget in Ligue 1 Conforama languishing in 14th place - saw the club's directors take action.
The club's 2-0 away win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League last Wednesday had given the impression that a turnaround could have been on the cards, but now Juninho - whose first move as sporting director was to choose Sylvinho for the job - must now find a replacement. Among the candidates are former Bordeaux, PSG and France coach Laurent Blanc and ex-OL boss Rémi Garde.
