体坛英语新闻：Kluivert leaves PSG as Director of Football

PARIS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain had terminated the contract with Director of Football Patrick Kluivert, the club announced on Friday.

"By mutual agreement, Paris Saint-Germain and Patrick Kluivert have taken the decision to end, effective as of June 9, the contract that bound them," said the club.

Former Dutch star Kluivert took his duty as PSG's Director of Football since July 14, 2016. In the 2016-2017 season, PSG won the French League Cup and the French Cup, while failing to defend their league title won by Monaco, and crashed out from the UEFA Champions League last 16 in a humiliating manner against Barcelona.

"The club would like to underline the quality of the relationships Patrick developed, over recent months, with the senior-team players and staff as well as with the administrators, educators and players at the youth academy and their families," read the statement.

"The club would like to thank Patrick Kluivert for the great professionalism he always showed and wishes him all the best for the challenges he chooses to take on in the years to come," it added.

PSG appointed Antero Henrique as the club's Sports Director on June 2. The Portuguese was responsible for drawing up the sports strategy of the club to maximize the first-team's competitiveness and reinforce the capacity of the club to detect, recruit and develop future stars.

Kluivert's departure was seen as a move to make way for Henrique to carry out his duty.