Bundesliga strugglers Augsburg on Monday sacked head coach Enrico Maassen after a 2-1 defeat to promoted Darmstadt.
“After extensive discussions and evaluation of the sporting situation, FC Augsburg have decided to dismiss coach Enrico Maassen with immediate effect,” the Bavarian club said in a statement.
Augsburg said “changes to the coaching position” were necessary after a German Cup exit to third division Unteraching, and just one win in seven Bundesliga games leaves the club one point above the relegation zone.
Augsburg’s under-23 coach Tobias Strobl will step in on an interim basis, Augsburg said.
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Maassen took over in the summer of 2022, after coaching the Borussia Dortmund reserve team.
The 39-year-old ensured that the club remained in the top flight with a 15th place finish last season.
The Bavarian club’s highest placing in the Bundesliga was fifth at the end of the 2014⁄15 season.
Maassen becomes the first Bundesliga coach of the season to be sacked from his post.