Opposition manager from infamous Leeds United haunting result 'sacked' after one World Cup loss
The man who masterminded a win over Leeds United that led to an infamous post-game interview has reportedly been sacked after just one game of the World Cup.
Tunisia boss Sabri Lamouchi will be familiar to some Whites fans having managed Nottingham Forest to a game that lives in Leeds infamy. The former French international was in charge of Nottingham Forest during the 2019/20 season when Marcelo Bielsa’s men visited the City Ground. The February 8 game led to what Bielsa described as a ‘loss of faith’ around his team and an unforgettable post-game interview from Luke Ayling. The Leeds defender looked haunted as he attempted to explain what had happened to the Whites. The defeat by Lamouchi’s Forest meant Leeds had won just once in six outings. Leeds went on to draw 1-1 at Brentford a few days later and kick-started their recovery, winning the next five on the bounce and 12 out of their remaining 14 fixtures to be crowed champions.
Lamouchi’s Forest won just three more of their final 15 games and finished seventh, missing out on a play-off place on goal difference. He was sacked in October 2020 and since then has managed Qatari outfit Al-Duhail, spent half a season at Cardiff City, was sacked by both Al-Riyadh and Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia and then in January of this year took the Tunisia national team job.
But a 5-1 defeat by Sweden in Tunisia’s World Cup opener appears to have cost the 54-year-old his job. Reports emerged on Monday that he was to be sacked mid-tournament. Tunisia face an uphill battle to escape Group F with games to come against Japan and the Netherlands.