Metz sack long-serving Muller

Metz on Wednesday night sacked Joel Muller, the longest serving coach in the French top division, after a poor run of results saw the team slump to third from bottom of the Championnat.

Muller, who spent 11 years in charge of Metz, became the sixth French first division coach to be dismissed this season when he was relieved of his job on Wednesday night.

The 48-year-old will be replaced by his former assistant Albert Cartier.

"Joel has been one of the greatest coaches in the club's history and this is not a decision we take lightly," Metz chairman Carlo Molinari told Reuters.

"It is difficult for him, for myself and everyone within the club. FC Metz are not accustomed to acting this way and I only wish we had six more points and this action was not necessary."

Molinari added: "I feel sorry for Joel because it is very unpleasant to have to split from someone we hold in such high regard."

Metz - who have managed only five victories from 22 matches this season – won the League Cup under Muller in 1996.

The former Metz player took over following the removal of Belgian Henri Depireux in 1989 and led the club to second place in 1997-98 and fourth in 1995-96.

Cartier, 40, another former Metz player, has been Muller's deputy since 1995.

"Albert has his own very definite ideas and he is ready to apply them," said the club chairman. "His challenge is to keep the club in the first division."

Toulouse, St Etienne, Strasbourg, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille are the other first division sides to have already replaced their coaches this season.