Jurgen Klinsmann on Tuesday surprisingly resigned as coach of Hertha BSC after only nine Bundesliga matches at the helm of the club.
The former Germany and US coach said in a statement on Facebook that he “cannot live up to my potential as coach and therefore cannot live up to my responsibility” without the trust from people at the club.
“That’s why, after long thought, I came to the conclusion to make my position as coach of Hertha available and return to my original long-term task as a supervisory board member,” Klinsmann wrote.
Much was expected of Klinsmann when he was appointed coach on Nov. 27 last year, helped by an extensive backroom staff. He was supposed to deliver on the promise provided by a US$250 million investment from new backer Lars Windhorst and lead Hertha up the standings toward the European qualification places, but the team is still fighting off relegation.
Klinsmann’s decision to quit caught Hertha by surprise, with players and general manager Michael Preetz only finding out on Tuesday morning before he made the announcement on Facebook.
“The coach came into the changing room. We thought it would be about the analysis of the last game, and then he told us,” Hertha midfielder Marko Grujic said after training. “We were completely surprised.”
Preetz suggested that the decision came as a shock, “especially after the trustful cooperation regarding decisions over personnel in the winter transfer period, there was no sign of it. We will inform of further developments at the appropriate time.”
Assistant coach Alexander Nouri was to take temporary charge of the team.
Klinsmann later told German daily Bild that he wanted a bigger role at Hertha with responsibility for transfers — a job currently carried out by Preetz.
“In my understanding, a coach should bear all responsibility for sporting matters, as per the English model. That gives the position much more power,” Klinsmann said.
The 55-year-old said that stepping down was not a spontaneous decision.
“In the past few days we received clear reactions and indications that the situation is not getting any better, but worsening,” Klinsmann told the newspaper.
Hertha were 15th in the 18-team Bundesliga when Klinsmann took over from Ante Covic, and they are now only one place better off.
Hertha managed only three victories in nine league games under Klinsmann and Saturday’s 3-1 loss at home to FSV Mainz 05 left them just six points above the relegation zone — four days after they were knocked out of the DFB Pokal by Schalke 04.
Klinsmann called Hertha a “sleeping giant.”
He was consulted on player signings as Hertha made their first splash on the transfer market following Windhorst’s investment. Hertha signed Matheus Cunha from RB Leipzig, Krzysztof Piatek from AC Milan, Santiago Ascacibar from VfB Stuttgart and Lucas Tousart from Olympique Lyonnais as their transfer spending last month reached an estimated 76 million euros (US$83 million).
Windhorst, who had brought Klinsmann to the club, had been given advance warning.
“I learned of the decision yesterday,” Windhorst said.
“I very much regret this step from Jurgen Klinsmann,” he added.
Klinsmann had a long association with Hertha through his father Siegfried Klinsmann, who was from Eberswalde near Berlin and was a fan, and his son, Jonathan Klinsmann, who was a reserve goalkeeper for Hertha from 2017 until last year when he moved to Swiss club St Gallen. Siegfried Klinsmann died in 2005.
As a player, Jurgen Klinsmann enjoyed a glittering career as a prolific striker for clubs in Germany, Italy, France and England. He won the FIFA World Cup and European Championship. His coaching career began with Germany in 2004 and he had mixed fortunes coaching Bayern Munich before taking over the US national team.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at