06.04.2015 13:06 h

Almeria call Sergi to the rescue

La Liga strugglers Almeria on Monday named former Barcelona player Sergi as their new coach until the end of the season.

The 43-year-old replaces Juan Ignacio Martinez who was sacked after just four months in charge following Almeria's 4-1 drubbing by relegation rivals Levante on Sunday.

With nine games to go, Almeria, sitting on 18th and one point adrift of safety, have turned to former Barca and Spain left-back Sergi to help rescue their flagging season, the club without a win in seven games stretching back to early February.

Sergi is Almeria's fourth coach of the season, with his first game in charge on Wednesday against Barca at the Nou Camp, where he made a name for himself as a player (1992-2002) and a youth coach (2009-2011) before coaching Segunda Division side Recreativo Huelva.

On top of their league woes, Almeria also face being hit with the deduction of three points by FIFA for failing to pay transfer fees owed to foreign clubs, although the Andulacian club are appealing that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.