MADRID, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Spanish La Liga club Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido was sacked Thursday following their elimination from the Kings Cup by second division Mirandes.

Garrido has been replaced by Villarreal's reserves coach Jose Molina, the club announced later.

"It has been a very difficult season but it is clear that we failed," Garrido said in comments posted on the club's website.

"I assume my responsibility as head of the group. It is not a surprise that things ended like this, you could see it coming by the way things were going.

"I accept my dismissal because the coach has the main responsibility. It has been a difficult year from the start and we have paid for it throughout the season, with setbacks like injuries and the rest."

Villarreal are now positioned in 17th place in Spain's top flight and exited the Champions League after finishing bottom of Group A with no points.

Villarreal, a low-budget club based north of Valencia, famously punched above their weight to reach the Champions League semifinals in 2006 when they were ousted by Arsenal.

The following year the team finished runner-up in the Liga to Real Madrid.

After coaching Villarreal's reserve side for the best part of eight years Garrido was appointed first team coach in February 2010 following the sacking of Ernesto Valverde.

In his first full season he led Villarreal to fourth place in the league and a Champions League qualification spot, but a disastrous campaign in both Europe and at home this season left Garrido's position virtually untenable.