Juan Carlos Garrido Fired by Real Betis

Real Betis are in last place in La Liga with just 11 points for the 2013-14 season, so it comes as little surprise that manager Juan Carlos Garrido has been fired.   

Renowned football journalist Sid Lowe reported the news on Sunday, Jan. 19, citing Al Primer Toque as the source:

The club announced that the move had indeed been made, per a press release on its official website and via Inside Spanish Football, where it was noted that Garrido's replacement would take over immediately.

Garrido took over for Pepe Mel just this season, but after the fall the Green-and-Whites have experienced thus far, the organisation has evidently seen enough to dismiss the boss before even accruing a full year on the job.

It's been a big fall for Real Betis, whose last match ended in a 5-0 defeat at the hands of league powerhouse Real Madrid. In 2012-13, Mel guided the club to a seventh-place finish in the league.

After two seasons that were building toward something potentially promising, Betis are in grave danger of being relegated to the Segunda Division once again. Two wins, five draws and 13 losses in 20 matches is not getting it done by any stretch, and this firing is well warranted despite Garrido's limited tenure.

Before taking on this job and falling well short of expectations, the 44-year-old Garrido had managed the Belgian Pro League's Club Brugge last season and was sacked in September 2013.

That came after a year away from roaming the sidelines, following his dismissal from Villarreal after the 2010-11 campaign saw him fail to register a point in the Copa del Rey.

While it will be interesting to see whether Garrido gets another shot as a manager soon, the most compelling announcement to come from Betis is the successor.  

A strong leader will be necessary to turn around the unpromising state of the club based in Andalusia.