Coach Christodoulou leaves AEL

AEL Limassol FC have parted company with their coach Charalampos Christodoulou ahead of Thursday's UEFA Europa League tie against Fenerbahçe SK in Nicosia.

An announcement on the club's website on Monday read: "The AEL board of directors announces that it is ceasing its cooperation with the coach of the team Pambos Christodoulou and his coaching staff (Lazaros Semos, Kokos Evripidou, Andreas Mavris and Sotiris Charalambous). The board would like to offer its warmest thanks to Pambos Christodoulou and his associates for their excellent cooperation as well as for the joy that they have given our club on many occasions in the past. The crowning moment of their achievement here was the triumph in the league title last season. We would like to wish them all the very best in their future careers."

Christodoulou, who was set to serve a touchline ban against Fenerbahçe, last season guided AEL the league title for the first time since 1968. Subsequently his side were pipped to a UEFA Champions League place by RSC Anderlecht but did enough to earn a UEFA Europa League debut. A former player at Doxa Katokopia FC, Olympiakos Nicosia FC and AEK Larnaca FC, Christodoulou made a name for himself when he took the managerial jobs at Doxa and Olympiakos, helping them to impressive league finishes before arriving at AEL in the summer of 2010.

AEL started off their campaign with a 0-0 draw against VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach followed by a 5-1 defeat by Olympique Marseille. They are currently four points off the pace in the domestic title race.