Cyprus club AEK Larnaca will have a temporary coach when it takes on visiting Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League on Thursday.
AEK director of football Jordi Cruyff told The Associated Press through a spokesman on Tuesday that Cypriot Demetris Demetriou will be the stand-in coach for the Group J game.
Cruyff said a decision has yet to be made on a permanent replacement for Tom Caanen, who was fired last week.
It's a must-win game for AEK to keep alive its slim hopes of advancing in the competition. AEK is in last place in Group J with only two points. Schalke leads the group with eight points, followed by Maccabi and Steaua Bucharest with six and five respectively.
After Caanen's sacking, AEK was boosted on Saturday by beating Anorthosis Famagusta 1-0, secured through a goal by midfielder Gonzalo Garcia.
''We're heading into the Maccabi game looking for a win, we have a slight chance of advancing so we'll give it our all,'' Cruyff said through the spokesman.
Cruyff said Caanen was let go because he felt a change was needed for the club, based on the team's performance in the domestic championship.
AEK lies fifth in the Cypriot standings, 10 points behind leader Omonia.
Caanen told a news conference last week he was ''very disappointed'' at the ''unfair'' decision to fire him and that he deserved more time to finish what he started at the club.
He said it was a mistake to fire him despite whatever tactical errors may have been made during the season.
''I believe I'm a victim of my own success,'' Caanen said.
