Monaco fire Jardim, hire former Spain coach Moreno

PARIS: Former Spain coach Robert Moreno was named as Monaco manager after Leonardo Jardim was sacked for the second time, offering the long-time assistant his first shot at club management.

“Monaco announces the end of their collaboration with coach Leonardo Jardim. Former Spain national team coach Robert Moreno takes over first-team duties in an agreement that runs until 2022,” said a club statement on Saturday.

Moreno has spent the bulk of his career as an assistant to Luis Enrique but became Spain coach in June after the Barcelona great stepped down from the role after his daughter Xana was diagnosed with cancer. She tragically passed away in August.

Moreno led Spain to Euro 2020 qualification as runaway Group F winners, earning four victories and two draws as head coach as well as three wins while in temporary charge of the team while Luis Enrique was on leave.

The 42-year-old was expected to remain in charge of Spain until the end of next year’s tournament until Luis Enrique decided to return to the role in November and declared he no longer wanted to work with Moreno due to a personal falling out.

Luis Enrique claimed in a news conference that Moreno had wanted to take charge of the team at Euro 2020 before allowing his former boss to return to the role, describing his long-time colleague as “disloyal”.

Jardim led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and a remarkable run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2017 but was relieved of his duties in October 2018 following a disastrous start to the season.

The Portuguese coach was appointed again little more than three months later, however, after his successor Thierry Henry was dismissed.

He departs once more with the principality club seventh in Ligue 1, 17 points adrift of leaders Paris St Germain.