Javier Clemente was replaced as Olympique Marseille coach by veteran Croat Tomislav Ivic today as Bernard Tapie, the club's new sports manager, made his presence felt on his first day in charge.
Tapie said Ivic, who trained Marseille between 1990 and 1992, would take over for the last four league games of the season. Marseille are 14th in the 18-strong first division.
Clemente replaced Brazilian coach Abel Braga in November and had a contract until the end of the current season with an option for a further year.
Marseille boss Robert Louis-Dreyfus appointed Tapie, convicted of match-rigging and prosecuted for fraud, last week to save the 1993 European champions from relegation.
Tapie was Marseille president when Ivic was in charge of the club in the early 1990s. The 67-year-old Croat took them to the European Cup final in 1991.
Ivic resigned as Standard Liege coach late last year after heart problems. He has been in charge of Hajduk Split, Ajax Amsterdam, Anderlecht, Galatasaray, Porto, Paris St Germain, Atletico Madrid and Benfica.
He was also manager of Croatia and Iran.
Clemente, 51, was in charge of Spain from 1992 to 1998, but has had problems turning round Marseille and has clashed with players over his coaching methods.
Reuters