Erol Bulut has been sacked as Cardiff City manager following the Bluebirds’ 2-0 defeat by Leeds United – a result which left them with just one point after six Championship matches
Cardiff have sacked manager Erol Bulut after their dismal start to the new Sky Bet Championship season.
Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Leeds left the Bluebirds rooted to the foot of the table with just one point from their opening six matches, having scored just one goal and conceded 13.
In a short statement, the club confirmed Bulut “has been relieved of his duties and will leave the club with immediate effect”.
They added: “The board of directors wish to thank Erol for all of his hard work and wish him well for the future.”
Bulut was appointed by the Bluebirds in June 2023 and led them to a 12th-placed finish last season, earning him a two-year contract extension in the summer.
Cardiff confirmed that first-team coach Nikolaos Karydas will also leave the club, with Omer Riza taking charge on an interim basis.
It’s the first time Cardiff have taken only one point after six games since the 1930-31 season, when they lost five on the bounce before claiming a draw.
“We spoke before and we knew how important and how difficult the game would be for us,” Bulut said after the Leeds defeat.
“The plans for today was to stay compact and not allow the opponents chances and to counter well. But after 23 minutes we were only with 10 men and then we conceded after 30 minutes against a team like Leeds, with the quality they have, it’s not easy to come back and change the game.
“But also, in the first half, we invited them for chances because we lost the ball too easily. Too many easy, individual mistakes. When you do this against Leeds, the offence they have, if you invite them they take it. This was the point.
“The second half – I cannot say anything because they worked really hard to come back. It’s not fair to say they didn’t try. They tried really hard. But the second goal on 88 minutes, we shouldn’t do that mistake. I’m expecting from an experienced, good defender, what Calum Chambers is, to clear it better.”
