Cypriot title holders APOEL have parted ways with Greek boss Giorgos Donis following his side’s shock 1-1 draw at home to bottom club Ayia Napa on Monday. The club issued an announcement on Tuesday night confirming the former Blackburn and Panathinaikos winger’s departure adding that decision was “mutual”. Donis – who famously won a Greek Cup as boss of Larissa in the past and was also in charge of AEK Athens and PAOK – took over from Paulo Sergio in December last year and quickly turned around the club’s poor run of form.
He went on to lead them to their first league and Cyprus Cup double since 1996 before masterminding APOEL’s progress into the group stages of the Champions League for a record third time. The Cypriot champions only managed to take one point in their group (1-1 home draw against Ajax) after being pitted with the Dutch heavyweights alongside Catalan giants Barcelona and big-spending PSG.
But it’s his side’s recent league form that reportedly upset club chairman Prodromos Petrides with APOEL having lost 4-0 to Ajax as well as being held to a 4-4 draw at home to AEK Larnaca before then surrendering their unbeaten run in the league in their 2-1 reverse at Ermis Aradippou last month.
Monday’s night’s 1-1 draw against Ayia Napa – following a 91st minute equaliser from Giorgos Kolokoudias – effectively ended his tenure in Nicosia. “My time at APOEL was the best of my career,” said Donis in a written statement. “I would like to thank the board for the excellent cooperation we had together.
As of this day, APOEL have another big supporter and that is me.”
Donis has in recent weeks been heavily linked in the Greek media with taking over as Greece national team boss following the brief and unsuccessful spell of Claudio Ranieri. Some of the names already floating around as a possible replacement include that of Anorthosis legend and former Georgia national team boss Temuri Ketsbaia. Other names include recently sacked Olympiacos boss Michel and former Levante and Osasuna coach Jose Luis Mendilibar.
Cyprus Weekly