Madrid, Nov 3 (IANS): Spanish football club Real Sociedad have sacked manager Jagoba Arrasate following the team's 0-1 home defeat to Malaga.

The result Saturday left the side from San Sebastian in the relegation zone of the BBVA Primera Liga, second from bottom of the table and makes Arrasate the third manager to be sacked in Spain this season following Albert Ferrer (Cordoba) and Jose Luis Mendilibar (Levante), reports Xinhua.

Arrasate was named as Real Sociedad manager in the summer of 2013 after the decision by Phillipe Montainier not to continue at the club after leading them to the Champions League.

The former youth team coach led Real Sociedad into the group phase of the competition, but his lack of first team experience showed as they finished bottom of their group and suffered a poor start to the campaign.

After the turn of the year, Real Sociedad's form improved with less matches in their fixture calendar and they eventually finished in seventh place, qualifying for this season's Europa League as well as reaching the semi-finals of the King's Cup where they lost in controversial fashion to Barcelona.

The summer saw the club lose striker Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid and although they were able to retain players such as Carlos Vela, Sergio Canales and Esteban Granero, they were knocked out of the qualifying round of the Europa League and have so far taken just six points and won just one game (at home to Real Madrid) from 10 this season.

Former Manchester United coach, David Moyes is among the favourites to replace Arrasate and whoever the new coach is, they will debut at home to Atletico Madrid.