Muñoz loses Panathinaikos job
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Article summary
Panathinaikos FC have told their Spanish coach Víctor Muñoz his services are no longer required and his contract will not be renewed for next season.
Article body
New man
Club owner Giannis Vardinoyannis is understood to have told Muñoz, who took over in October 2006, that the Greens are looking for a new man to lead the Athens club after they finished third in the Greek League this season, 17 points behind champions Olympiacos CFP and out of the UEFA Champions League qualification places.
UEFA Cup run
Previously in charge at Real Zaragoza, the 50-year-old Muñoz replaced Swedish coach Hans Backe at Panathinaikos before the UEFA Cup group stage. He managed 12 victories, five draws and seven defeats from 24 league games, with five of the losses suffered at home. Panathinaikos recorded two wins and two draws in six UEFA Cup matches under the coach, bowing out in the Round of 32 with a 3-1 aggregate defeat by RC Lens.
Final defeat
A shock 2-1 defeat for Panathinaikos in the Greek Cup final against Larissa FC in Volos spelt the end for Muñoz, though the club have not yet named his successor. Muñoz will be officially in charge until 25 May when he will conduct a press conference to confirm his departure. Panathinaikos will start their 2007/08 UEFA Cup campaign in the first round.