Parma sack Cuper ahead of relegation decider

AFP, May, 2008

ROME (AFP) — Parma stunningly sacked coach Hector Cuper on Monday with just one match of the season remaining, the club's president Tommaso Ghirardi said.

Cuper was only hired two months ago with Parma already struggling against relegation, just one place above the drop zone.

Under the 52-year-old Argentine's guidance Parma won two matches, drew three and lost five times but they also dropped one place to 18th and need a minor miracle to avoid the drop.

They host champions Inter Milan on the last day of the season with only a victory giving them any hope of staying up.

On Sunday they took the lead 1-0 at Fiorentina but ended up losing 3-1 and trail 17th-placed Catania by two points.

If the Sicilians beat Roma this weekend, Parma will...