Bundesliga: Schalke Sack Wagner After Poor Start

Schalke 04 announced on Sunday they have sacked head coach David Wagner after going 18 league games without a win , which includes the worst to a start to a season in Bundesliga history .
After 15 months in charge , time finally ran out for the 48 -year – old former Huddersfield manager following Saturday ’ s 3 -1 defeat at home to Werder Bremen which left Schalke without a league victory since January.
Having kicked off 2020 / 21 with a humiliating 8 -0 loss at Bayern Munich last weekend , Schalke ’s record of 11 goals conceded with one scored in two defeats is the worst start to a season in the league’s history .
“ We hoped that we could turn things around . Unfortunately , the first two matches did not produce the necessary performances and results,” said Schalke’ s sports director Jochen Schneider .
“ We have therefore decided to take the path of a new start in terms of personnel , ” he added.
“ Despite the disappointing results, this decision was anything but easy for us.”
Wagner seemed resigned to his fate after Saturday ’s defeat, saying : “ I am the main person responsible , as a coach you need results and we aren ’ t getting them .”
His successor is expected to be announced soon , with former RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick — who has already coached Schalke in two stints — among the best -known candidates linked to the vacant job.
Having won promotion to the Premier League in 2017 / 18 with Huddersfield , Wagner returned to Germany with an enhanced reputation when he was unveiled as head coach of Gelsenkirchen- based Schalke in May 2019 .
Schalke lay third last December in Germany ’s top- flight , but crashed dramatically in 2020 conceding 48 goals and earning just six points in a disastrous end to last season.
The cash – strapped Royal Blues have deep financial problems off the pitch and the coronavirus pandemic, with a loss of matchday revenue due to games played behind closed doors , has added to their debts.
AFP