MALLORCA TODAY - Caparrós sacked as Real Mallorca coach

Not unexpectedly, Joaquín Caparrós, having presided over the dramatic slump in Real Mallorca's fortunes this season, has been sacked as the club's coach. Caparrós, who took over from Michael Laudrup in 2011, enjoyed a decent first season with the club and a fine start to the current season. Mallorca were at one point second in La Liga, but a run which has seen the team take only six points from a possible 54 has left Mallorca in nineteenth position and so in the relegation zone. The defeat yesterday against Real Sociedad was the final straw for the board. To what extent Caparrós has been hampered by the in-fighting on the board is questionable, but all is not right at Mallorca, as it hasn't been for several years. Who will now take over? One name that has been mentioned, by Monro Bryce in the "Majorca Daily Bulletin" is Lothar Matthäus. But his would be an appointment inspired by German shareholder Utz Claassen who is at loggerheads with the main shareholder Llorenç Serra Ferrer, so it is doubtful if Matthäus would get the job, which is probably as well for Mallorca as he doesn't have a great record as a coach.