UPDATE 2-Soccer-Valencia confirm Koeman sacking, Voro in charge

(updates with Valencia statement)

MADRID, April 21 (Reuters) - Former Dutch international Ronald Koeman has been dismissed as coach of relegation-threatened Valencia and replaced by Salvador Gonzalez 'Voro', the Primera Liga club said on Monday.

Valencia's 5-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday left the team two points above the drop zone.

Koeman signed a two-and-a-half year contract at the beginning of November following the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores. Valencia were then fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Valencia said on their Web site (www.valenciafc.es) that a meeting at the club on Monday had sealed the departure of Koeman and his assistants Jose Mari Bakero, Toni Bruins Slot and sporting director Miguel Angel Ruiz.

Voro, a former player at Valencia and Deportivo Coruna, would take charge of the team to the end of the season.

"Ronald Koeman has had his contract rescinded by mutual agreement," the club said.

"Voro has been appointed coach with total freedom to do what he thinks needs to be done to take the club forward in these last five matches with the 25 first team players," it added.

Koeman has appeared an increasingly isolated figure at Valencia in recent weeks but guided his side to a 3-1 victory over Getafe in the King's Cup final last Wednesday.