Santander fires coach Portugal

Published Feb. 7, 2011 11:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

Racing Santander has fired coach Miguel Angel Portugal following a seven-match winless run that has left the team only a point above the relegation zone in the Spanish league.

Santander announced the decision in a statement on Monday.

Portugal is the fifth coach to lose his job this season in the Spanish league and his dismissal is the first major move by new owner Ahsan Ali Syed, who took over the club near the end of January.

Portugal previously worked as Real Madrid's technical director during the 2008-09 season.