Italian Cristiano Bergodi quit on Thursday as Rapid Bucharest coach, minutes after his team failed to reach the UEFA Cup group stage, a club spokesman said.
Rapid drew 2-2 at home in their first round, second leg game against German side Nuremberg and were eliminated on the away goals rule after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
"Bergodi said he had decided to quit and that his decision was final," spokesman Cristian Costache told Reuters.
Rapid had been bidding for a third consecutive appearance in the group stages of the competition.
The move also followed critical comments last week by Romanian Soccer Federation president Mircea Sandu, who told reporters: "These Italian coaches come to Romania only to get money, to build a name as coaches and criticise our referees."
Bergodi's fellow countryman Walter Zenga is coach of Dinamo Bucharest, while Massimo Pedrazzini took charge at Steaua after former coach Gheorghe Hagi resigned last month.
