The collaboration didn't last long: Riera is no longer Eintracht's coach.

Spanish coach Albert Riera is no longer the coach of Eintracht, the German football club confirmed late last night.

The club announced that it had mutually parted ways with the Spanish strategist, as well as his closest associates.

"After an open and honest analysis of the team's performance, we have concluded that we want to take a different path next season," said the club's sporting director Markus Kreše.

The decision came a day after the Frankfurt club drew 2-2 with Stuttgart in the final game of the season, leaving the team in eighth place in the table, just outside the European competition spots.

That match was marked by protests from fans directed at Riera, who had publicly clashed with the club's top scorer Jonathan Burkard and had had violent outbursts of indignation over what he considered unfair media coverage in recent weeks.

Eintracht failed to win any of their last five games, and three defeats at the end of the season ended their hopes of qualifying for European competition.

"Thanks for nothing, Alberto," read one banner held up by fans during the last game.

Rijera arrived at Eintracht in January from Celje, replacing Dino Topmoller, who was sacked after a four-match winless run. That run had reached a total of seven matches without a win when Rijera took over from interim coach Denis Schmidt.

Riera recorded four wins, five draws and five losses on the Eintracht bench.