Jesus Garcia Pitarch has left his role as Aston Villa’s sporting director, the club have confirmed.
The Spaniard was appointed on October 10 2018, the same day Dean Smith took over as head coach.
It was heralded as the start of a new era for the Villa Park outfit by chief executive Christian Purslow and promotion was won to the Premier League via the play-offs in May 2019.
Last summer saw a number of arrivals, with more than £120million spent, but only a final-day draw at West Ham saw Smith’s side stay up by a point in 17th position.
The sporting director’s transfers included forward Wesley from Club Brugge for £22million, while £11.5million was spent on left-back Matt Targett from Southampton.
Pitarch, commonly known as Suso, has now paid the price for a tough first season back in the Premier League for Villa and the club will look to improve their recruitment strategy ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.
An official club statement read: “The board would like to thank Suso for his hard work in restructuring the playing squad after the change of ownership in 2018, and for setting in place foundations for future success including the reorganisation of our academy.”
‘He instantly popped into our ratings as one of the best U21 midfielders in Europe. The impressive thing is Slot has made him into more of a no.6' Inside Ryan Gravenberch's transformation at Liverpool
‘I don’t think Liverpool would look at Ollie Watkins, a striker isn’t a pressing issue for them – it’s Arsenal who need one’ Former Reds star explains why his old club don’t need an out-and-out forward this summer
