Korkut replaces Schmidt as Leverkusen boss
Monday, March 6, 2017
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Tayfun Korkut is to lead Leverkusen for the remainder of the season, replacing Roger Schmidt, who was dismissed in the wake of Saturday's 6-2 Bundesliga loss away to Dortmund.
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Bayer Leverkusen have named 42-year-old Tayfun Korkut as their new coach, the Stuttgart-born former Turkey midfielder agreeing to take charge until the end of the season following Roger Schmidt's dismissal in the wake of Saturday's 6-2 loss at Borussia Dortmund.
"I am very happy about the task at hand and want to meet the team as soon as possible," said Korkut, who spent the bulk of his playing career in Turkey but more recently coached Hannover and Kaiserslautern in Germany. "We want to finish the season as strongly as possible, and to continue to play in Europe. For that we'll give everything."
Hired ahead of the 2014/15 campaign, Schmidt leaves with Leverkusen tenth in the Bundesliga and in danger of missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time in five seasons. They have lost four of their last six league matches. Bayer also face an uphill task to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after succumbing 4-2 at home to Atlético Madrid in their round of 16 opener.
"Given the current situation in terms of results and, after detailed and careful consideration, we have reached this painful yet unavoidable decision in the best interests of Bayer 04," read a statement from club chairman Michael Schade. "It was very difficult for me to take this step as we have a lot to thank Roger Schmidt for."
"I believe Roger Schmidt is an absolute top coach and I have always given him my full support," added sporting director Rudi Völler. "We have to act now if we are not going to lose touch with our targets. Now it's all about making a fresh start and finding consistency in our performances. Our team has great quality, but unfortunately we have seen far too little of that this season."
Schmidt departs the BayArena having guided Bayer to fourth position in his maiden campaign and third last term, when they were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage and proceeded to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.