Liverpool cult hero terminates contract after FSG takeover talks collapse

A Liverpool cult hero has terminated his contract at Bordeaux after takeover talks between the club and Fenway Sports Group (FSG) collapsed in recent days.

The former Ligue 1 club spent the last two seasons in Ligue 2 after being relegated at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, went into administration due to financial difficulties and have now been relegated to the third tier of French football by the National Directorate. of Management Control due to financial concerns.

The six-time French champions have since filed for bankruptcy after Liverpool’s owner pulled out of takeover talks last week, effectively ending the club’s survival hopes and giving up its status as a professional club after years of financial mismanagement .

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And following news that the club has also closed its renowned training academy and terminated players’ contracts, its manager has become the latest to resign following the heartbreaking demise of one of France’s most successful football clubs.

That manager happens to be former Liverpool favorite Albert Riera, who only returned to the French side in October after taking over from David Guion on the hot seat. The Spaniard guided Bordeaux to 12th place in Ligue 2 last season, finishing nine points outside the promotion play-offs.

However, despite finishing nine points above the relegation places, Bordeaux were relegated to the Championnat National. In a press release, the club said they will continue to promote their youth academies and hope they can return to Ligue 1 with “healthy finances and renewed ambition”.

However, Riera has already moved on to pastures new following the termination of his contract, taking over at another of his former sides, Celje, having only left his managerial role at the Slovenian top flight in October.

After being unveiled as the club’s new coach two days before the start of last season, Riera won 11 of his first 17 games. 12 months later, he will be hoping to pick up where he left off and aim for a second Slovenian PrvaLiga title of his career.

The 42-year-old completed the league and cup double with fellow top-flight side Olimpija Ljubljana in 2022-23 in his first year in professional charge, winning 30 of 46 games in charge of The Dragons between July 2022 and May. 2023.