Former Premier League star, 42, sacked as manager of non-league club after taking over from Golden Boot winner

FORMER Premier League star Julio Arca has endured a Christmas nightmare after being sacked by South Shields.

The 42-year-old former Sunderland and Middlesbrough midfielder replaced fellow Black Cats legend Kevin Phillips in the dug-out of the National League North side last summer.

Alamy

South Shields have axed ex-Prem star Julio Arca as manager[/caption]

PA

He took over the job after Kevin Phillips left following last season’s promotion[/caption]

Arca, who previously came out of retirement to play for South Shields in the formative years of owner Geoff Thompson’s reign, named ex-Ipswich and Sunderland star Tommy Miller as his assistant.

Having won promotion under Phillips – who won the Premier League Golden Boot in 1999/00 – last season, they started their first-ever campaign in the National League North impressively.

They were second in the table after beating Southport on November 11 – but they have only won one game since.

The ambitious North East side have now decided to axe the Argentine following their recent slump in form.

It was the 3-1 Boxing Day derby defeat to Blyth Spartans that proved to be the final straw.

That result stretched South Shields’ winless run to six games.

Arca has now paid the price after they slipped to eighth in the table and outside of the play-off places.

A club statement confirmed: “The club expresses its sincere gratitude to Julio and Tommy for their efforts during their time at 1st Cloud Arena and wishes them both well for their future endeavours.

“Julio has been one of the main catalysts of the club’s growth over the last eight-and-a-half years and will always be regarded as a club legend.

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“We regret that his time as first-team manager has come to an end, but this decision has been made as a result of on-pitch performances and results over the last six weeks.

“Julio, Tommy and their families will always be welcome at 1st Cloud Arena.”

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Reuters

Julio Arca played for both Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the top-flight[/caption]

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Tommy Miller, who played for Ipswich, has also been axed as his No2[/caption]