Hamburg sack Oenning

Struggling Bundesliga side Hamburg have sacked coach Michael Oenning on Monday, effective immediately.

Propping up the table in 18th spot with just one point from six games, last season’s eighth-placed outfit have struggled to generate any early season momentum, which has led to Oenning’s departure.

Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnesen had previously backed Oenning after their loss on the weekend, stating that the manager would be ‘sitting with me and the team in the plane on the way to (next opponent) Stuttgart’.

But Arnesen confirmed that his vote of confidence was not enough to save the 45-year-old Oenning, leading Hamburg to instate Rodolfo Cardoso as interim boss of the first team.

“After the 0-1 defeat against Monchengladbach and following intensive discussions over the past couple of days, we came to the conclusion that this decision was inevitable,” Arnesen said.

“The search for Michael Oenning’s replacement begins in earnest today. In the meantime, Rodolfo has our full support.”

Oenning was accepting of his fate, conceding that their results so far this season were not good enough.

“It’s understandable given the current circumstances that the club wishes to pursue a different route,” the sacked coach said.

Hamburg will begin life after Oenning with a tough trip to Stuttgart on Friday, who have won their past two league matches.