Slomka is no longer Schalke’s coach

Schalke 04 have dismissed coach Mirko Slomka after a UEFA Champions League exit was followed by Saturday’s 5-1 Bundesliga defeat by Werder Bremen.

General manager Andreas Müller said that the club had planned to part company with the 40-year-old coach at the end of the season, but decided to act early after the team slipped from second to third place in the league on Saturday. He said: “We’ve got into a situation now that could have a very negative impact on the team and endanger our goal of qualifying for the Champions League. That’s why we moved quickly now.”