The managerial merry-go-round is revolving again at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville. Juan Carlos Garrido has been sacked after just 47 days in charge.
It has been an unhappy, if mercifully brief, tenure for Garrido. The writing was on the wall from the moment that Real Madrid thumped them 5-0 on Saturday. A Madrid team in full flow, as they were for the first time in a while, can do that to anyone but the result was symptomatic of the poor displays that Betis have produced under Garrido
The Betis fans chanted for Garrido to go throughout the game, and more dangerously for the manager they also chanted for the board to go. It is a football truism that when fans chant for the board to resign, the manager is often sacked to deflect attention. Miguel Guillen stated directly after the match that Garrido would not be sacked. One day later he was gone.
So what now for Real Betis? They are currently five points adrift at the bottom of La Liga, with their best players sold or injured and little or no funding available. The fans chanted the name of Pepe Mel, the popular manager who has been snapped up by West Bromwich Albion since his sacking.
The Betis board have acted swiftly in appointing a new manager. Former Lausanne and Saudi Arabia manager Gabriel Calderon has been given the nod. A popular player during his time at the club during the mid eighties, he has already called on the fans to back him and the team:
“Betis needs its supporters”, the Argentinian said, “when a loved one is sick we all join forces to help.”
It remains to be seen whether Calderon has the right medicine, or whether the Betis illness will be terminal to their hopes of La Liga survival.
