Aston Villa sack manager Dean Smith
Aston Villa have sacked manager Dean Smith after five successive league defeats.
Smith had been in charge at Villa Park since October 2018 but defeat to Southampton on Friday night forced the board into action.
Villa currently sit 15th in the Premier League with just 10 points from their 11 games played, registering just three wins.
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Aston Villa statement
In a statement released by the club, Villa thanked Smith for his "excellent achievements" and wished him the very best for the future.
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The statement said: "Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that the Club have parted company with Head Coach Dean Smith.
"Dean was appointed Villa Head Coach just over three years ago in October 2018 and led the club back to the Premier League via the play-offs in his first season in charge following a club-record ten-match winning sequence towards the end of that campaign.
The Board would like to sincerely thank Dean for his many excellent achievements, on and off the pitch, during this time
- "The following season, he kept Villa in the top flight while also leading the team out at the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley, narrowly losing 2-1 to Manchester City."
Villa struggle to replace Grealish and Barkley
Smith led Villa to an 11th place finish last season but during the summer lost club hero Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100 million.
He also failed to replace players like Ross Barkley who returned to parent club Chelsea after a successful season-long loan spell.
Despite the losses, Villa enjoyed a rare high moment this season, beating Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009.
But with defeat at home to West Ham last Sunday, Friday's 1-0 loss was just one defeat too many.
Club CEO Chritian Purslow wished Smith well for the future, saying: "The Board would like to sincerely thank Dean for his many excellent achievements, on and off the pitch, during this time.
"Everyone knows how much Aston Villa means to Dean and his family. He has represented the Club with distinction and dignity - universally liked and respected by everybody associated with Aston Villa – our staff, players and supporters alike. We wish him the very best."
Following the news, Grealish tweeted: “No1 will ever compare, the real goat.”
No1 will ever compare 💙❤️ the real goat ❤️❤️ https://t.co/Spp6ADIAo6
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) November 7, 2021
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