Former Liverpool midfielder Albert Riera has been brutally axed as Eintracht Frankfurt manager, just three months into his reign at the Bundesliga side.
Despite only playing 58 times for the Reds, in a Premier League career that also saw him line up for Manchester City, Riera is still fondly remembered for his short two-season stint at Anfield.
Indeed, the 16-time Spain international would collect three goals and four assists as a new £8m recruit during the 2008-09 campaign, which nearly saw Rafa Benitez’s men beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s unstoppable Manchester United machine to the Premier League title.
Picking up a further four assists during his brief spell on Merseyside, Riera would then go on to play for the likes of Olympiacos and Galatasaray, as the Spaniard went global.
He has since embarked on a managerial career, as well, which has seen him take on roles in Slovenia, France, and Germany.
Unfortunately for Riera, he has now been dismissed as manager of Eintracht Frankfurt, bringing his German managerial adventures to a sharp close.
Riera’s dismissal in Germany
The former Anfield number 11 would only last a matter of months in Frankfurt before being axed, having been handed the main managerial reins in February.
It had been bubbling away that Riera would be axed, as it was first reported near the start of May, and after a disappointing end to the season, saw Frankfurt go winless across their last five Bundesliga outings, the 44-year-old was put out of his misery.
Riera’s record as Frankfurt manager:
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Only winning four of his 14 games in charge of The Eagles, Riera will hope he can dust himself down and prove himself as a manager elsewhere.
In a statement released after his sacking, the ex Liverpool midfielder stated: “The club and I mutually agreed to end our collaboration.
“As coach, I take responsibility for the sporting results, and my sole focus during this time was on improving the team and making it successful.
“I felt I had to protect the club and the players, and I would act the same way again in a heartbeat.
“I was convinced that this was necessary to keep the focus entirely on sporting success. Personal interests played no role for me.
“My goal was, is, and always will be the same: to develop the players and achieve success.
“I am grateful to have been part of Eintracht Frankfurt’s history and wish the club all the best for the future.”
Looking at the group he used to play alongside at Liverpool, several exciting managers have emerged, including Xabi Alonso, who has now taken up the Chelsea job.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who Riera also featured alongside in England, is the current Real Madrid boss, as well.
The Merseyside giants will hope they haven’t missed a trick by not launching all in to snap up Alonso to replace an underperforming Arne Slot, with the Dutchman fearful that an end-of-season dismissal – similar to Riera’s – could be heading his way.
Slot will surely be fearful he will be axed
For the time being, it looks as if Liverpool is sticking by Slot, who is arguably as unpopular as Riera was at the Waldstadion, at Anfield right now.
Indeed, the 4-2 defeat picked up last time out in the Premier League action, at the hands of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, means the Reds have lost a colossal 12 games in the top-flight alone this season.
It has been a dreadful fall from grace for the under-pressure head coach, with Mohamed Salah publicly blasting him in the build-up to a must-win clash with Brentford, certainly not helping his case.
A final-day win would secure Champions League football, which would be a minor plus during what has been a dire overall season.
Yet, Slot will still be fearing the axe, which would leave him in the same unemployed boat as Riera.
