Beijing Guoan has given the pink slip to its head coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Thursday following a disappointing 0-2 loss to Hebei China Fortune in the ongoing 13^th season of the Chinese Super League (CSL), according to insiders in the club. His assistant Xie Feng is set to take over as the interim head coach.

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The Italian took the place of Spaniard Gregorio Manzano as the head coach of the Imperial Guards in January, but Zaccheroni has suffered a tough start to the highest tier of professional football in China, winning only two matches in nine games played this season. Beijing Guoan currently sits at the 10^th place in the team standings of the 16-club league.

On Wednesday, in the wake of Beijing's 0-2 loss at the Workers Stadium to Hebei China Fortune, some supporters congregated at the team's home ground's players to protest, chanting "Zaccheroni out!" This was the second time that such a protest had happened, according to Xinhua.

On Thursday, reports started making rounds that the 63-year-old Zaccheroni had been fired. The team confirmed to Xinhua that they have discussed the termination of Zaccheroni's contract right after the game with China Fortune," but the team has not yet released an official statement due to some follow-up work that still needed to be done.

Chinese Xie Feng, the Zaccheroni's assistant, will be taking over as the Chaoyang District-based club's interim head coach until a new coach is appointed.

Zaccheroni is best known for having managed a number of top-caliber clubs in the Italian's premiere football league. In 1999, he won the Italian Football Championship with giant AC Milan.

The veteran Italian game tactician led Japan to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil after their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying football match against Australia in Saitama on June 4, 2013.

Tagsalberto zaccheroni, Beijing Guoan, Chinese Super League, Hebei China Fortune FC, Workers Stadium, xie feng, Serie A, fifa