By George Georgakopoulos

Panathinaikos relegated coach Juan Ramon Rocha back to the Under-20 team on Monday evening and will announce his successor at the team's bench on Tuesday, the club has announced.

Two days after a second straight league loss, to Levadiakos at home (2-1), Panathinaikos announced that its vice-president Christos Panagopoulos met with Rocha and reached a joint decision according to which the Argentine would revert to his duties of coaching the youth team of the club.

Rocha had been brought in in November to replace resigned Jesualdo Ferreira, and was then officially declared a temporary manager.

“Panathinaikos warmly thanks Mr Rocha for his assistance up to now in this critical period for the team. The name of the new manager will be announced on January 8,” the club statement read.

Reports say that a foreign coach will again be chosen to lead the club for the rest of the season. Kathimerini understands he will be from the Iberian peninsula.

Also on Monday evening, Xanthi thrashed visiting OFI Crete with a 3-0 score in the closing game of the 16th round of the Super League.