Aston Villa sack manager Roberto di Matteo 124 days after he takes charge

Aston Villa have sacked Roberto di Matteo as manager after just 124 days in the job.

Villa are now looking for their fifth boss inside a year after deciding to replace the Italian, who won just one of 11 Championship games in charge.


Former Chelsea player and manager Di Matteo, 46, was appointed shortly after Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia took over Villa in June.

Steve Bruce and Mick McCarthy are among the early favourites to replace him.
Former Walsall manager Dean Smith, now in charge at Brentford, has already dismissed speculation about taking charge of the club he supported as a boy.

Villa were booed off by their fans after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Preston.

Former Villa striker Garry Thompson, who was the radio match summariser at Deepdale, told BBC WM: "Once you lose the support of the travelling fans and they turn on you, you're in trouble."
Since Tim Sherwood left on 25 October last year, Villa have also had Remi Garde and caretaker boss Eric Black, for the final seven games of last season, in charge, prior to Di Matteo's appointment in June.

Since he came in, Villa have signed nine players for a combined outlay of around £50m, while 17 players have left for a combined income around £16m.

But, since beating Rotherham United at home 3-0 on 13 August, his only win in charge, Villa have gone nine games without a win.

In five of Di Matteo's 11 league games at the helm, his side have conceded a goal after 85 minutes.