Mainz sack coach Kasper Hjulmand
February 17, 2015
FSV Mainz 05 announced on Tuesday that it had parted company with head coach Kasper Hjulmand with immediate effect. Hjulmand had been appointed prior to the current season, replacing Thomas Tuchel.
The coach of Mainz's under-23 team, Martin Schmidt, has been appointed as Hjulmand's replacement and is to be on the bench this Saturday when the club faces Eintracht Frankfurt, whose proximity makes the game something of a local derby.
"Those who know our club philosophy and the way we work, will realize how tough this decision was for us," said Christian Heidel, Mainz's commercial manager, on the club's website.
"We've decided to go for Martin Schmidt. He's known our club, our team and the way we play for five years now and he has helped shape that."
The decision to sack the 42-year-old Danish coach came after the club had won just one of its last 13 games and is now sitting one point above the relegation zone.
The final blow came at the weekend, when Mainz were defeated by fellow strugglers Dortmund, who drew level with Mainz in the table on points, with 22. Mainz are now in 14th spot, just above Dortmund, based on a slightly better goal difference.
pfd/al (dpa, SID)