Aston Villa have sacked head coach Dean Smith after just over three years with the club.
Dean was appointed Villa boss in October of 2018.
Since then he 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 following season, he kept Villa in the top flight while also leading them to the Carabao Cup Final, in which they narrowly lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
Aston Villa are currently 15th in the Premier League table, just two points above the relegation zone.
His final game in charge was a 1-0 loss away to Southampton.
Dean becomes the second Premier League managerial casualty of the weekend after basement side Norwich parted ways with Daniel Farke on Saturday.
Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that the Club have parted company with Head Coach Dean Smith.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 7, 2021
Speaking in relation to the decision to let Smith go, Villa CEO Christian Purslow said:
“When Dean joined us in October 2018 our team was really struggling in The Championship. He immediately transformed the atmosphere and performances and achieved the ultimate success of leading Villa back to the Premier League within the same season - a rare feat.
“He then secured our place in the Premier League after a tough campaign and took us to a Cup Final at Wembley.
“However, after a good start to last season, this year we have not seen the continuous improvement in results, performances and league position which we have all been looking for. For this reason we have decided to make a change now to allow time for a new head coach to make an impact.
“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.”
The club says a process of replacing Smith will now begin and that the club will update supporters in due course.
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