Relegated Hertha Berlin and coach part company

Hertha Berlin, relegated from the Bundesliga after a shocking season that saw them win only five games, have decided not to renew the contract of coach Friedhelm Funkel, the club announced on Tuesday.

“Hertha and the coach decided on Tuesday not to renew their contractual agreement that was due to run out at the end of the season,” the club said in a short statement posted on its website.

“Hertha thanks Friedhelm Funkel for his work, even if the joint aim of staying in the Bundesliga was not achieved,” the statement added.

The 56-year-old joined Hertha in October following the sacking of Swiss Lucien Favre. He had previously coached Eintracht Frankfurt for five years.

After a stellar season last year that saw Hertha pushing for the title right to the end before finishing fourth, this term has been nothing short of disastrous for the Berlin outfit, who finished rock bottom of the Bundesliga.

This leaves Berlin as one of the only capitals in a major European footballing country without a top-flight club.