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The Week in Germany: Sports

February 2, 2007

Bayern Munich Shakeup: Magath Fired, Hitzfeld Returns

Bayern Munich has sacked coach Felix Magath with immediate effect and Ottmar Hitzfeld will make a sensational return as Munich coach until the end of the season, the Bundesliga giants confirmed on Wednesday.

Munich confirmed reports from the Bild daily and Kicker sports magazine that Magath, 53, had to go after Munich lost 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund on Friday and were held to a goalless draw by lowly VfL Bochum on Tuesday - endangering their future in the elite Champions League next season.

The club ranks fourth in the Bundesliga standings, poor by their standard. Munich could trail leaders Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 by eight points at the end of the day and Magath earlier Wednesday publically gave up the title race.

"We regret this step. Felix Magath worked superbly with very good results over the past two-and-a-half years. But as those responsible for the club we must also look at the current results and react to them. The fear about qualifying for the Champions League next season led us to this measure," German soccer legend and Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement.

Bayern is a member of the so-called G-14 group of clubs, comprised of the most powerful clubs in Europe, and playing in the Champions League is a matter of pride.

Magath took over from Hitzfeld on July 1, 2004. Hitzfeld, coached Munich from 1998-2004, winning the European Champions League 2001, four Bundesliga titles and two German cups. He recently rejected an offer from another former club of his, Borussia Dortmund. Hitzfeld also won the Champions League with Dortmund, in 1997, plus two Bundesliga titles.

Now Hitzfeld, 58, who had to leave in 2004 because the team failed to play attractive soccer, is to coach Munich until the end of the season, his first game being a tension-filled Bavarian derby in Nuremberg on Friday night. Also upcoming is a Champions League round with Spanish giants Real Madrid. (dpa)

Links:

No More Excuses for Bayern Stars, Says Hoeness
(TWIG, Jan. 5, 2007)

Heynckes Resigns as Mönchengladbach Coach

At the same time, just hours earlier on Wednesday, another former Munich coach resigned from another Bundesliga team: Jupp Heynckes called it quits as coach of troubled German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, with assistant Jos Luhukay promoted to new coach.

Mönchengladbach said that Heynckes, 61, who played for the team in the 1960s and '70s, asked to be released from his contract in the wake of a 0-0 home draw with Nuremberg on Tuesday night, their 12th straight game without victory. The club started well into the season but have since plunged into the relegation zone in 16th place.

Heynckes, whose resignation marks the end of his coaching career, led Real Madrid to the Champions League title in 1998 and also won Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich. (dpa)

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