Inter Milan have sacked head coach Frank de Boer after he won just four of his first 11 Serie A games.
The Italian giants are 12th in the table after they were beaten 1-0 away at Sampdoria on Sunday – their fifth defeat of the campaign – and sit bottom of their Europa League group.
Youth team coach Stefano Vecchi has been handed interim control of the senior side and will be in charge for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Southampton.
A club statement read: “Internazionale Milan announce that it has today terminated the contract of coach Frank de Boer.
“The club would like to thank Frank and his staff for the work they have done and wish them the best for the future.”
De Boer signed a three-year contract to succeed Roberto Mancini in the summer after resigning as manager of Ajax following their failure to win the Eredivisie title.
The former Netherlands international defender had enjoyed a successful five- and-a-half-year spell in Amsterdam, for whom he also played for 11 years, winning the Eredivisie in four of them.
Following his arrival in Milan, Inter signed the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Joao Mario and Ever Banega but De Boer lost his first Serie A game away to Chievo.
After a draw with Palermo, a first win came against Pescara, but it was followed by an opening Europa League defeat to Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Wins over Juventus and Empoli re-strengthened his position but after a draw with Bologna, Inter suffered three straight defeats including another Europa League loss away to Sparta Prague.
Inter beat Southampton 1-0 in their next Group K match but De Boer lost two of his final three Serie A games in charge to Atalanta and Sampdoria.
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