I was sad to be informed today that my time as Head Coach of Reading FC has come to an end. I have established a strong bond with the club, its supporters and the city, and I will never forget my time as Head Coach here.
“I have really enjoyed living in Reading city centre and feeling first-hand what it means to be a Royal’s fan and share some great moments with the club’s supporters.
“I will always be grateful for the support of the club, its fans and our players, all of who showed commitment towards our ideas from the very start.
“Last year we managed to overcome the very tough challenge of turning results around to ultimately secure safety and enjoyed some amazing end of season celebrations at the Madejski Stadium.
“It has been amazing to see attendances grow, the feel-good factor return and how a real team effort, with everyone pulling together, saw us achieve our target.
“I will never forget the Portugal Day that we were treated to by the fans and a special shout-out goes to Club 1871 for that memorable occasion. Thank you all! It would not have been possible to achieve everything that we did, without the encouragement of the fans.
“Despite the transfer embargo and the fact that we had to complete the squad with 14 U23 players during pre-season, we were prepared for a new challenge this season, whilst maintaining the same determination to continue to move forward on the strength of that togetherness and with a clear working plan.
“We had a difficult start to the campaign, but I really believe that this squad is ready for big things and I am convinced that we were on the right track. I am sure that with time there would once again have been a positive end to our journey this season.
“I strongly believe that the quality of the players that the club has at its disposal is sufficient to finish the season in the battle for promotion. Needless to say, I would have loved to have been given the opportunity to continue our work here with most of the season still ahead of us.
“I feel proud to be able to say that, right from day one, I put all of my effort into achieving success and did everything that was needed to gradually take the club towards its rightful place. However, I understand the world of football and accept the decision taken by the club, about which I will never have a bad word to say and to whom I will forever be grateful for giving me the chance to work in English football.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to every single member of the club’s staff who worked with us, especially to the players for believing in our plan and remaining committed at all times. I would also like to thank the club’s local media for their respect.
“I sincerely wish Reading FC and the new manager all the very best of success in the future and I can tell you that, as of today, the club has itself another fan.
“Come on URZ!”
