Lăcătuş steps aside as Steaua coach

Marius Lăcătuş has resigned as coach of FC Steaua Bucureşti in the wake of Tuesday's 5-3 UEFA Champions League home defeat against Olympique Lyonnais, saying: "Unfortunately, I could not bring out better performances."


Angry response
Steaua led 2-0 and 3-2 against Lyon before coming unstuck at the Steaua Stadium. They are bottom of Group F with one point from three games and face away fixtures against French champions Lyon and German counterparts FC Bayern München in their next two ties. Steaua owner George Becali hit out at Lăcătuş after the game, saying: "I said that I would never sack Lăcătuş and I will respect my promise, so I will leave him alone until he drowns."

Calm decision
Lăcătuş, 44, responded by handing in his resignation. "I have decided to quit," he said. "It was a good year, but obviously it could have been better. Unfortunately, I could not bring out better performances. Anyway, it's been an experience and maybe I will learn from the mistakes I made. I am leaving, because I don't see things getting better. It's better for me to leave than for the players to suffer and be under extra pressure."

Shaky form
The former FC Braşov, Steaua, ACF Fiorentina, Real Oviedo and FC National Bucureşti forward was appointed as the club's coach in October 2007 following spells in charge at National, Braşov, FC Otelul Galaţi and FCM UTA Arad. A European Champion Clubs' Cup and UEFA Super Cup winner with Steaua in 1986, he led his side to a runners-up finish in the Romanian league last season, and resigns with the team third in the table, but without a win in their last three league games. The club have yet to name a replacement coach.