Belgian side Club Brugge sacked English coach Scott Parker yesterday after they were thrashed 7-1 on aggregate by Benfica in the last 16 of the Champions League. "Scott Parker is no longer head coach of Club Brugge,” the club said on Twitter.Parker, the former Fulham and Bournemouth manager, was a surprise hire on December 31, but lasted just 12 games at Brugge. The 5-1 defeat by Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday, on top of the 2-0 defeat in the home leg, brought the curtain down on his short stay.Brugge, the 18-time champions, are currently fourth in the Belgian first division, 21 points behind leaders Genk. The club were appearing in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in the competition’s current format.Goncalo Ramos struck twice to help Benfica romp to a last 16 win. Ramos, who shot to global fame during the World Cup when he was selected ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and netted a hat-trick against Switzerland, set up the opener for Rafa Silva.The 21-year-old forward then produced two clinical finishes either side of half-time to ensure the two-time European Cup winners would reach the quarter-finals in consecutive seasons. Joao Mario struck from the spot to score in his fifth consecutive Champions League match -- Portugal great Eusebio was the last player to manage the feat for the club.David Neres added the fifth for Benfica before Bjorn Meijer netted a spectacular late consolation. Roger Schmidt’s ruthless side finished top of a group containing heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and made light work of Parker’s knock-out stage novices.Benfica have only been beaten twice all season across all competitions and dominated from the outset against the Belgian visitors.
March 08, 2023 | 11:38 PM