Valenciennes manager sacked after record 13-0 cup victory

Valenciennes sacked manager Pierre Blois on Monday despite the club's record 13-0 French Cup victory over ninth-tier Habarcq.

Valenciennes announced Monday that manager Pierre Blois has been removed from his position, effective immediately. The timing proved surprising given the club had just recorded its largest victory in history, a 13-0 rout of ninth-division CS Habarcq in the French Cup fifth round.

Blois, a former youth coach at the club who took interim charge of the first team after Stéphane Moulin's departure, had struggled to establish momentum in Ligue 3 this season, losing 4-0 to Caen on the opening day.