Adrian Heath, the only manager in the history of Major League Soccer's Minnesota United, was fired on Friday, the team announced.
The move comes with two matches left in the regular season for the Loons, who host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night at Allianz Field in St. Paul.
Assistant coach Sean McAuley will lead the Loons in those final two regular season matches.
In a statement, Minnesota United general manager Shari Ballard called it a difficult decision, but the time was right to move in a new direction.
“Whenever a club decides to make a coaching change, there is a tendency to focus only on the end of that coach’s tenure," she said. "However, the conclusion of Adrian’s time with MNUFC should not diminish his significant contributions to our club. His passion and hard work have been enormously impactful, and we thank him for all that he has done for MNUFC and for our community.”
Also let go by Minnesota United, sources say, was the team's technical director Mark Watson.
Heath was named manager for the Loons just before the team's inaugural MLS season in 2017.
In seven years leading the team, Heath put together a record of 81-91-51 and guided the Loons to the MLS playoffs four times.
The Loons are coming off a 5-1 road loss to LAFC on Wednesday, extending their winless streak to seven (0-4-3).
Minnesota United is 12th in the MLS Western Conference, but still mathematically alive for a postseason spot.
Heath grew up in England, and became a coach following a successful playing career at Everton.
His first manager's job was with Burnley in 1996.
Heath came to North America in 2008 to coach the USL-1 expansion team Austin Aztecs, the team relocating to Orlando and eventually becoming a MLS franchise.
He was fired in the middle of the 2016 season, and hired by the Loons in November of that year.
Heath's first win leading the Loons was a 4-2 victory over Real Salt Lake.