1. FC Köln have parted ways with coach Zvonimir Soldo following their slow start to the Bundesliga season.

Beaten 2-1 at Hannover 96 on Saturday, Köln lie a point adrift at the bottom of the standings with just one win to show from their opening nine games. "FC Köln and Zvonimir Soldo this afternoon ended their cooperation," read a statement from the club. "The board and management of the club have jointly taken the decision after a detailed analysis."

A former Croatian international, Soldo took up the Köln position in summer 2009 after Christoph Daum departed for Fenerbahçe SK. The club's Under-23 side coach Frank Schäfer will take over on a caretaker basis, with his first mission Tuesday's German Cup outing against TSV 1860 München.