Santos resigns, Markarian back
Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian, who spent a brief spell with Panathinaikos last season before quitting, was, according to reports last night, reappointed to replace Portuguese coach Fernando Santos, who departed a day earlier. Reports said that Markarian, who was tipped for the job, spoke with Panathinaikos President Angelos Filippidis and is expected to arrive by tomorrow. Panathinaikos, which reached the Champions League’s quarterfinals last season, has disappointed this season. According to reports, Santos, who took over the Athens club after winning the Greek Cup and narrowly missing out on last year’s title with AEK, wanted to end his tenure, most likely as a result of the pressure caused by his team’s poor start this year. Santos, who will receive 600,000 euros in compensation, has yet to provide a clear explanation for his move, which he said was mutually agreed upon. Reports noted Santos as saying that he would never again work in Greece, while he denied that his departure was connected to a possible job with Portugal’s national side.
