Boloni calls time on Standard Liege tenure

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BRUSSELS, Feb 10, 2010 (AFP) - Laszlo Boloni has resigned as coach of under-performing Belgian champions Standard Liege, the club announced on their website on Wednesday.

"Taking into account the team's current position, Laszlo Boloni on Wednesday tendered his resignation as head coach of Standard Liege," read a club statement. "His contract was subsequently terminated by mutual consent from both parties."

Boloni, 56, was replaced by Standard's sporting director Dominique D'Onofrio, whose brother Lucien is the vice-president of Standard Liege and seen as the strong man of the club.

"Immediately after his appointment, Dominique D'Onofrio flew to Austria to watch the Austrian Cup match between Graz and Salzburg, who Standard will play in the Europa League," the club said in a statement.

Boloni arrived at the club in July 2008 shortly after former Belgium international goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme had led Standard to their first league title in 25 years.

The success continued under Boloni last season, when the Romanian guided the team to a league and cup double and a place in this season's Champions League.

Standard's fortunes have slumped this term, however.

Eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage and knocked out of the Belgian Cup, the team are currently 19 points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Anderlecht in sixth place in the table.

Boloni has previously coached French sides Nancy, Rennes and Monaco and won a league title with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, where he oversaw the development of a young Cristiano Ronaldo.