MADRID - Struggling football club Cordoba says it has fired coach Miroslave Djukic after losing 2-0 away to regional rival Malaga on Sunday, its eighth defeat in a row.

Cordoba appointed Djukic on Oct. 20 after previous coach Albert Ferrer had failed to win a single match since the club's return to the top tier this season.

Former Barcelona, Chelsea and Spain defender Ferrer had coached Cordoba to promotion to the top flight for the first time in 42 years.

The Andalucian club has won just three league matches and said Monday it has appointed B-team coach Jose Romero as caretaker manager.

Cordoba is bottom of the Spanish league on 18 points from 27 rounds, four below nearest rival Granada.