Olympiacos go into their Champions League opener against AZ Alkmaar having just disposed of manager Temuri Ketsbaia as coach.

The 41-year-old former Georgia international was dismissed today, just four months after he was appointed and after just three league games of the news season.

Olympiacos have yet to concede a goal in their opening three league fixtures and have taken seven points from a possible nine, but fan unrest and reports of dressing room disputes have been enough to earn former Newcastle star Ketsbaia the sack.

A statement from Olympiacos said: "Olympiacos have parted company with head coach Temuri Ketsbaia by mutual agreement.

"Bozidar Bandovic will take over as caretaker coach, with Andreas Niniadis as his assistant."

Ketsbaia had only been recruited in May after an impressive spell in charge of Anorthosis Famagusta, during which he masterminded the elimination of Olympiacos from the Champions League play-offs.

Bandovic, promoted from the scouting department, will send his new charges out against an AZ Alkmaar side who edged out Holland's big three of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord to win the Eredivisie title.

However, that was under Louis van Gaal who has since been recruited by Bayern Munich, with Ronald Koeman, another Ajax old boy, stepping into his shoes.

Results have been mixed under Koeman and AZ go into the Group H opener on the back of a surprising 2-1 defeat to Den Haag.