MADRID, March 21 (Xinhua) -- La Liga side Sevilla have sacked Jorge Sampaoli as first team coach after a run of poor results, with former Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar expected to be named as his replacement in the coming hours.

Sevilla confirmed Sampaoli's departure on Tuesday with a message which reads: "Sevilla FC has terminated the contract with its coach, Jorge Sampaoli, after the team's defeat in Getafe, which has once again placed the team on the verge of relegation places."

"The fact that the team has not managed to get out of the lowest positions in the table since his incorporation as coach and the image offered in the last matches of the team have led the club to make this decision, which is to find a reaction in the 12 last games until the end of the season."

Sampaoli returned for his second spell at Sevilla in October after Julen Lopetegui was sacked after seven games of the season, with the club already in a battle against relegation.

The club finished third in their group of the Champions League to qualify for the Europa League and last week they reached the quarterfinals of that competition, where they will play Manchester United.

However, the Argentinean couldn't improve Sevilla's league form and the club continues to be irregular in attack and fragile in defense. They have lost three of their last four La Liga games, with Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Getafe leaving the club 14th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.