Rui Vitória leaves Panathinaikos, his fate sealed by a Portuguese goal | OneFootball

Greek giants Panathinaikos announced the departure of manager Rui Vitória on Monday, after the team took just one point from their first two matches of the Super League season.

Vitória had been in charge of the Athens club for almost a year, having taken the reins last October and impressed many with his results. Panathinaikos finished runners-up behind Olympiacos, but according to reports in Portugal, tension had been building between the Portuguese and the club’s hierarchy in recent weeks.

Pana raked in record money in sales this summer, raising close to €40m from departures. The majority of the income came from the outgoings of Georgios Vagiannidis (€13m) and Fotis Ioannidis (€22m) to Sporting, while Serbian midfielder Nemanja Maksimović also left for the United Arab Emirates.

Reports in both Maisfutebol and O Jogo claim Vitória was left unimpressed with the replacements. Although the former Benfica boss was able to bring in Renato Sanches, whom he worked with in Lisbon, the signings of Zaroury, Milos Pantovic and Vicente Taborda were all drafted in without Vitória’s approval.

For the striker position to replace Ionnidis, Vitória anticipated a high-quality arrival given the money recouped. Pana acquired Cyril Dessers from Rangers, but the Nigerian international was Vitória’s third-choice for the position, after ex-Porto man Mehdi Taremi and Braga’s Simon Banza.

If the chemistry off the pitch was not positive, results on it needed to compensate. However, Pana drew one and lost one from their opening two games, leading in both at the 75 minute mark but drawing against Levadiakos (1-1) at home on opening day, before a 3-2 loss to newly promoted Kifisia at the weekend.

To add a cruel twist, the winning goal by Kifisia, scored in the 94th minute, was delivered by a Portuguese: Hugo Sousa, the 33-year-old former Sporting defender.

Vitória had a meeting with sporting director Spyros Vlachos the following day, during which it was agreed that the 55-year-old coach would not continue. Due to the inadequate reinforcements made, Vitória felt he was no longer confident in delivering the success he wished for at such an historic club.