PARIS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ligue 1 outfit Lille on Friday fired Argentine head coach Marcelo Bielsa, already suspended last month, as the team failed to live up to the management's expectation.

The club said in a brief statement that the contract with Bielsa has been terminated.

Lille, who finished 11th last season, hired Bielsa in anticipation of striving for Champions League qualification, only to find themselves currently on the 18th position.

The club temporarily suspended Bielsa in November, before a four-member team provisionally took charge of the team.

Bielsa appealed to the French professional football league (LFP) later, while not appearing in the meeting with the club.

Bielsa, 62, made his return to the French top-flight league after two years. He abruptly quit the coaching job at Marseille in August, 2015 after the first league game of the season.