16.04.2019 19:01 h

Anderlecht replace coach after title flop

Anderlecht coach Fred Rutten left the Belgian giants on Tuesday after just three months in charge following a disastrous run of form in the league's title play-offs, with Frenchman Karim Belhocine named as his replacement.

The club said it came to a mutual agreement with Rutten to move on from the Dutchman with Anderlecht in danger of missing out on European football for the first time in 55 years.

Anderlecht, who finished fourth in the regular season, lost their opening three games of the play-offs before Friday's match at Standard Liege was abandoned after visiting fans hurled smoke bombs and other objects onto the pitch.

Anderlecht, the record 34-time Belgian champions, were trailing 2-0 and down to 10 men when the fixture was halted in the 32nd minute.

They trail leaders Genk by 15 points with six rounds of matches left.

Former Feyenoord and Schalke boss Rutten, 56, had only been appointed in January after the sacking of Hein Vanhaezebrouck.

Belhocine had previously served as interim coach following Vanhaezebrouck's exit in December.

The 41-year-old's only previous job as a head coach came at Kortrijk.