( CNN ) -- Panathinaikos sacked Dutch coach Henk Ten Cate on Tuesday after the Greek side lost the league leadership to arch rivals Olympiakos . Ten Cate took over at the Athens-based side last season as Panathinaikos looked to end the dominance of Olympiakos , who have won every Greek championship bar one since 1997 . They led the standings until a 2-0 defeat to Olympiakos saw the champions move one point clear of Panathinaikos after 13 games . Panathinaikos are also still in the Europa League and Greek Cup , but this did not prove enough to save Ten Cate , who will be replaced by Nikos Nioplias , the coach of the Greece under-21 team . Ten Cate , who was assistant manager at English Premier League side Chelsea , told the official Panathinaikos Web site that it had been an `` honor '' to be in charge . `` I have laid the groundwork for this team . I respect the fact that some people may not be happy with the general picture , but my assistants and I have given everything to succeed . '' The 54-year-old was assistant at Chelsea under Avram Grant and was previously number two at Barcelona to Frank Rijkaard . Panathinaikos was his first managerial position and he took them to the last 16 of last season 's Champions League , but could not dislodge Olympiakos in the Greek title race . He was on a two-year contract , which still had six months to run on his departure . The 45-year-old Nioplias , was bullish in his official statement on taking charge . `` My aim is to achieve with the team as a coach what I have achieved as a player -- win titles . '' He has an excellent record with the Greek age group teams , taking the under-19 team to the final of the European championship and leading the under-21 squad to the top of their European championship group . On other managerial news , Sinisa Mihajlovic has taken charge of Catania after the Serie A side dispensed with Gianluca Atzori on Monday . Former Bologna coach Mihajlovic has signed a two-year deal with Catania , who are second bottom of the Italian standings .
Coach Henk Ten Cate sacked by Greek giants Panathinaikos . Sinisia Mihajlovic first in Greek league to arch rivals Olympiakos . Ten Cate was formerly assistant coach at English Premier League and Catania . Olympiakos appoint Sinisia Mihajlovic as coach in place of Gianluca Atzori .