( CNN ) -- Tottenham Hotspur acted swiftly after their worst home defeat in 16 years to dispense with the services of manager Andre Villas-Boas , the English Premier League club announced Monday . Liverpool 's 5-0 thrashing of Tottenham Sunday left the north London club in seventh place , five points below the Champions League places and eight adrift of leaders Arsenal . It followed a 6-0 loss to Manchester City last month and a tally of just 15 goals in 16 EPL games this season . `` The club can announce that agreement has been reached with head coach , Andre Villas-Boas , for the termination of his services , '' read a short statement on the Tottenham website . `` The decision was by mutual consent and in the interests of all parties . We wish Andre well for the future . We shall make a further announcement in due course . '' Villas-Boas , 36 , spent 17 months in charge of Tottenham , taking over from Harry Redknapp before the start of last season . Inspired by Gareth Bale , Tottenham achieved their best ever EPL points tally of 72 , but narrowly missed out on a Champions League place to their arch-rivals Arsenal . Bale 's world record sale to Real Madrid in the transfer window preceded a spending spree by Tottenham as they invested a reported Â£105 million ( $ 171 million ) on new players . Results have been mixed , with a 100 per cent record in qualifying for the last 32 of the Europa League -- where they have been drawn against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk -- and progress to the quarterfinals of the English League Cup with a match against West Ham United Wednesday . But the pressure began to build after a sorry display against Manchester City , combined with earlier disappointing EPL home defeats to West Ham and Newcastle . Sunday 's reverse , inspired by Luis Suarez , left Villas-Boas in an unenviable position , although he was defiant to the last . `` The call to make that decision is not mine because obviously I wo n't resign and I 'm not a quitter , '' he told gathered reporter after the Liverpool match . `` The only thing I can do is work hard with the players to get them back on track . This is a top-four squad but in our Premier League form we are not there , '' he admitted . Villas-Boas previously spent nine months in charge at Chelsea before owner Roman Abramovich replaced him with Roberto Di Matteo . He had forged his reputation and was spoken of as the `` new Mourinho '' by leading Porto to the Europa League title and the Portuguese league and cup double in the same season . Villas-Boas becomes the fifth EPL manager to lose their job this campaign , following Paolo Di Canio ( Sunderland ) , Ian Holloway ( Crystal Palace ) and Martin Jol ( Fulham ) , while West Bromwich Albion parted company with Steve Clarke Saturday . Russia manager Fabio Capello , the former England head coach , has been installed as an early favorite by British bookmakers . Capello 's former assistant with England at Roma and Real Madrid , Franco Baldini , is currently Tottenham 's director of football . Tottenham later announced that former players Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand would take charge of first team affairs in the interim , assisted by Chris Ramsey , who is head of player development . Spanish La Liga side Valencia also parted company with their coach Monday after a poor weekend result , losing 3-0 to high-flying Atletico Madrid . Miroslav Djukic was relieved of his duties after only six months as the defeat left them 10 points adrift of Athletic Bilbao , who occupy the final Champions League spot . Like Villas-Boas , Djukic had guided his team into the last 32 of the Europa League , where they will face Dynamo Kiev , but their league form has been indifferent .
Tottenham Hotspur sack manager Andre Villas-Boas . Departs after 17 months in charge at EPL club . 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool proves his last match at helm . Fabio Capello early favorite to replace the 36-year-old Portuguese .