Stuttgart gives coach Babbel the boot
Source: Agencies |
December 7, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
BUNDESLIGA struggler VfB Stuttgart parted company with coach Markus Babbel yesterday, Bild newspaper reported on its Website.
There was no immediate confirmation from Stuttgart, which drew 1-1 with VfL Bochum on Saturday and has not won in eight games, though the club said there would be a news conference "triggered by current events" later in the day.
Stuttgart is in 16th place in the 18-team German first division with 12 points from 15 games.
It can still reach the Champions League knockout stage with a home win over Romania's Unirea Urziceni on Wednesday.
Babbel, a former defender for Bayern Munich and Liverpool, took over midway through last season, after Armin Veh was sacked, and steered Stuttgart to a surprise third-place finish and a Champions League spot.
This season, the rookie coach, who is still studying for his coaching license, failed to replicate last year's form with the team winning only two of its matches so far.
Fans booed and jeered the Stuttgart players when they arrived for the Bochum clash and an 89th-minute equalizer by the visitors prompted some in the stands to unfurl a banner reading: "You have just used up your credit".
Police were drafted in to control several hundred fans who protested outside the stadium after the game.
On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen squandered the chance to go six points clear at the top with a goalless draw against Hanover 96.
Leverkusen, enjoying its best start to a season with 15 matches without a loss, lacked its usual offensive spark against the host's tight defense and missed its best chance when Stefan Kiessling's header was cleared on the line.
The result lifted Leverkusen to 31 points with Werder Bremen, on 27 points, able to close in to within a point if it beats lowly Cologne yesterday. Bayern Munich edged past Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Friday to move into third place also on 27 points.
There was no immediate confirmation from Stuttgart, which drew 1-1 with VfL Bochum on Saturday and has not won in eight games, though the club said there would be a news conference "triggered by current events" later in the day.
Stuttgart is in 16th place in the 18-team German first division with 12 points from 15 games.
It can still reach the Champions League knockout stage with a home win over Romania's Unirea Urziceni on Wednesday.
Babbel, a former defender for Bayern Munich and Liverpool, took over midway through last season, after Armin Veh was sacked, and steered Stuttgart to a surprise third-place finish and a Champions League spot.
This season, the rookie coach, who is still studying for his coaching license, failed to replicate last year's form with the team winning only two of its matches so far.
Fans booed and jeered the Stuttgart players when they arrived for the Bochum clash and an 89th-minute equalizer by the visitors prompted some in the stands to unfurl a banner reading: "You have just used up your credit".
Police were drafted in to control several hundred fans who protested outside the stadium after the game.
On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen squandered the chance to go six points clear at the top with a goalless draw against Hanover 96.
Leverkusen, enjoying its best start to a season with 15 matches without a loss, lacked its usual offensive spark against the host's tight defense and missed its best chance when Stefan Kiessling's header was cleared on the line.
The result lifted Leverkusen to 31 points with Werder Bremen, on 27 points, able to close in to within a point if it beats lowly Cologne yesterday. Bayern Munich edged past Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Friday to move into third place also on 27 points.
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