Valladolid fire coach Cocca after eight matches in charge

Real Valladolid have fired coach Diego Cocca after just eight matches in charge, the LaLiga club announced on Monday, with the squad sitting bottom of the table following a streak of five straight losses.

Cocca was hired on December 14 with a deal until the end of the campaign, but after securing only one victory during his tenure, reserve squad coach Alvaro Rubio steps in as temporary manager for the second time this season.

Valladolid suffered six league defeats under Cocca, including Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing at home to Sevilla, and also crashed out of the Copa del Rey to third-division club Ourense CF at the round of 32 stage last month.

Paulo Pezzolano was dismissed in November after a 5-0 thrashing at home to Atletico Madrid, having secured only two wins in 15 league matches this season, and Rubio led the team for three matches, winning two, before Cocca arrived.

Valladolid, promoted last season under Pezzolano, have 15 points after 24 matches, eight points behind Las Palmas in 17th, just outside the relegation places, and will visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.