Hertha part company with Swiss coach Favre

German tailenders Hertha Berlin on Monday announced the departure with immediate effect of their Swiss coach Lucien Favre.

Hoffenheim thrashed the Bundesliga strugglers 5-1 on Sunday to seal the fate of Favre, while his assistant Harald Gaemperle was also ejected, with Hertha saying under23 coach Karsten Heine would take charge for now.

The capital club, who finished fourth last season, have garnered just three points from seven games this term since Favre, who lifted the Swiss title with FC Zurich in 2006 and 2007, allowed three key players to move on in the summer.

They included skipper and Croatian star Josip Simunic, who joined Hoffenheim, while another key loss was Ukrainian forward Andrei Voronin, who returned to Liverpool following a loan spell.

Earlier Monday, tabloid Bild had in an article pleaded: “Herr Favre, please go.”

Heine will now have to pick the players up for a midweek Europa League match against Sporting Lisbon before Hertha tackle Bundesliga leaders Hamburg next Sunday.