Tom Sermanni, who had been in the post for just 15 months, has been replaced by U.S. Soccer director of development Jill Ellis, who will act as interim head coach.

The team's 5-3 defeat to Denmark in the Algarve Cup was not only their first back-to-back loss since 2001, but also the first time they had ever conceded five goals.

They had been on a 43-game unbeaten run.

"I'm disappointed that things didn't work out, but I'd like to thank U.S. Soccer for the opportunity to have coached this team and also the staff and players for all their hard work," Sermanni said.

He took over from Pia Sundhage, who quit in September 2012 after steering the United States to Olympic gold in London, and was fired just hours after a 2-0 win over China in Colorado.

Just hours after the United States beat China 2-0 in Colorado, coach Tom Sermanni was sacked ©Getty Images



Ellis, who served as interim head coach for seven matches at the end of 2012, will lead the United States out on Thursday (April 10) in San Diego where they will meet China.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said: "We want to thank Tom for his service over the past year-and-a-half, but we felt that we needed to go in a different direction at this time.

"We will begin looking for a new coach immediately to guide our Women's National Team toward qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup."

The World Cup will be held in Canada from June 6 to July 5 2015.

In the 2011 tournament in Germany, the United States lost on penalties to Japan in the final.

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