Flirting with drop, Getafe fires coach Luis Garcia

Associated Press

MADRID (AP) — Flirting with relegation, Getafe has fired coach Luis Garcia and appointed former player Cosmin Contra in a bid to halt a miserable run of form.

Garcia was fired Monday after two-plus seasons in charge of the suburban Madrid club, which is 15th in the standings after Sunday's 2-0 loss to last-place Real Betis.

Getafe says Contra's deal sees the Romanian join the club for the remainder of this season, plus two more. Contra, who also played fullback at Atletico Madrid and AC Milan, played for Getafe from 2005-10.

Garcia "hoped the change helps improve the feeling at the club. I hope the team recovers and moves forward."

Garcia, Getafe's all-time leader in games coached with 113, is the fifth Spanish league coach to be fired this season.