Magath relieved of Schalke duties
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
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Despite guiding FC Schalke 04 to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals last week, Felix Magath has been relieved of his duties as the Bundesliga club's coach with immediate effect.
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Felix Magath has left his post as coach and general manager of UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists FC Schalke 04 with immediate effect.
Following an extraordinary general meeting at the German Bundesliga club's headquarters, Schalke took the decision this morning to end Magath's 21-month tenure. "From FC Schalke 04's viewpoint there are very good reasons for this decision," said Schalke chairman Clemens Tönnies. "Essentially, we have decided that this is the right thing for Schalke."
Magath had joined the Gelsenkirchen team as coach and general manager in July 2009 immediately after guiding VfL Wolfsburg to the Bundesliga title. The 57-year-old made an impact in his first season, leading a young and rebuilt side to a second-place finish behind FC Bayern München. This term, however, league success has been more elusive, and with the Royal Blues tenth in the German standings, five points above the relegation zone, Magath has paid the price.
Despite their Bundesliga disappointment, however, Schalke have reached the last eight of the UEFA Champions League, after beating Valencia CF 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16, and the German Cup final where they will face second-division MSV Duisburg.
