While Valentine's Day is typically a day of couples getting together and celebrating their romance, there was a very definite separation between young lovers in the Netherlands, as Fortuna Sittard parted ways with Sunday Oliseh.
In the eyes of romantics, it was a poorly timed breakup, but despite leading the Dutch side from over two years of obscurity to the brink of a top-flight return, Oliseh's exit had begun to look inevitable.
Fortuna Sittard attributed the parting of ways to Oliseh's attitude and work ethic, referencing his inability to work with team personnel across the board.
For some, the news came as a surprise, but for many Nigerians, this felt like world-weary déjà vu.
We've been here before with Oliseh, who has previously criticised Nigerians for being professional and is now being victimised in Europe for apparently being too righteous.
Unfortunately, his departure is merely the latest chapter in Oliseh's growing catalogue of conflicts which date back to his playing days.
In 2002, as Nigeria captain, Oliseh was at the head of a bitter war of attrition between the team on the one side, and most of the Nigerian media on the other.
That battle contributed to the team's coaches, led by the late Shaibu Amodu, getting fired. Key players, including Oliseh himself, were subsequently left out of the World Cup squad and, essentially, his international career was ended.
Two years later, while on loan at VfL Bochum from Borussia Dortmund, Oliseh was involved in a physical altercation with teammate Vahid Hashemian which ended with the Iranian getting a broken, bloodied nose after a headbutt by the Nigerian midfielder.
More recently, his time as Nigeria coach was marked by stormy confrontations with the Nigeria football hierarchy, and a public dustup with Vincent Enyeama which precipitated the goalkeeper's premature retirement from the national team.
Even former teammates, who declined to go on record, have detailed tales and anecdotes of confrontations and abrasive behaviour in camp.
This latest back and forth with Sittard is just the most recent chapter, and it has led to heated discussions in Nigeria, both for and against the former midfielder, Oliseh surely needs to start looking in the mirror.
Nigerian sprinter Enefiok Udo-Obong, an Olympic gold medallist, is one prominent sportsman who has taken the side
"The truth is that Oliseh is upright," he told KweséESPN. "People in Nigeria unfortunately do not appreciate that.
'"We love 'yes sir' men. That is why we hate bold people," he added. "It will be in the interest of young Nigerians to support Oliseh."
That sentiment is shared by Oliseh's elder brother Churchill, who is also heavily involved in football, and says his younger sibling has always been guided by a high sense of principle.
"He has played football at the topmost level and he realises that one of the things that keeps you relevant in the serious world of football is principle," the elder Oliseh told KweséESPN. "Everybody knew somebody like Sir Alex Ferguson and knew what he stood for. Today we all applaud his resolve," he added. "It is the same thing with Sunday. He has the desire to do well
"He is also linked with a list of serious organisations and bodies around the world. Any illegality will cost him and he has never been willing to lose his name because he wants to bend the rules or be treated unfairly by anybody," the elder Oliseh added.
"You can't ruin your name and your career because of immediate gain."
So does Oliseh really need a change in attitude, or is he simply being misunderstood for his principled stand?
Tony Ubani, president of the Sports Editors Guild, told KweséESPN that the situation isn't quite as cut and dried as that.
"I think it is a bit of both; he's misunderstood and he also has an attitude problem," Ubani began. "Oliseh is intelligent, he knows the job and is very disciplined, but his attitude towards people, towards people who work with him and his public relations, especially with media, is very poor."
Ubani was in the thick of the action during that 2002 'war' between the Super Eagles and the media, and while he admits that there was blame on both sides, he says Oliseh and the team could have done better
"As a media man, I don't think anybody will love my country more than me. As much as we write and criticise, we are not less patriotic than the players.
"While he was playing, Oliseh never recognised Nigerian media. He preferred interviews with foreign media. Even those who were trying to be close to him were shunned.
"As media men, we sometimes go overboard, but no matter how intelligent you are as a coach, you must also develop a relationship with the media.
"So I wasn't surprised when I heard what happened to him at Fortuna. I couldn't but weep for him," Ubani concluded. "I think he needs to change his attitude.
"It is hard to bend an oak. I don't know if it is possible for him now, but nobody is too old to learn. If he can, he should make some adjustments."
Churchill disagrees, saying that despite the seeming conflicts in his football career, Oliseh will remain a much sought-after coach, even in light of his dismissal.
"Have you looked at the history of (Jose) Mourinho and (Fabio) Capello? They have had issues because of their stands," the elder Oliseh continued. "These men know that once things are not being right, they will not stand for it.
"It is a plus, because anyone coming for him knows what they are coming for: a principled man.
"In Sunny's case, he has achieved something the club have been unable to do in 23 years. The fans love him, the players love him. Only the management do not.
"Football is as intricate as surgery. The expert knows why he is doing a bypass, but others might wonder why not just change the heart?"
It's telling that the fortunes of the Nigeria national team have been transformed after Gernot Rohr replaced Oliseh as head coach.
The former, who offers the experience and temperament that Oliseh lacks, has turned the team into an excellent outfit.
Perhaps, once the former midfielder can demonstrate more maturity, and if he learns from chastening experiences such as these, he can still become the great Nigerian coach that many have been waiting for.