Ronald Koeman has been sacked as Barcelona manager after a dismal tenure which has left the Spanish giants in ninth place in La Liga.

Barcelona were beaten away to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night and it proved the final straw for the club’s board after a run of four defeats in their past six matches including at home to rivals Real Madrid last weekend.

Koeman, 58, enjoyed enormous success as a player at the Nou Camp, winning four league titles and a European Cup during the 1990s. 

But his time as manager has coincided with the club’s extreme decline amid financial problems, symbolised by the loss of Lionel Messi, arguably the world’s greatest ever player, who left for Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

“FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first-team coach,” an official club statement read following a fifth loss in all competitions this term.

“The president of the club, Joan Laporta, informed him of the decision after the defeat against Rayo Vallecano. Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.

“FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”