Schalke FC

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• Founded:1904
• Manager:Felix Magath

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Rutten axed by ailing Schalke

27 Mar 2009 - 08:06:35

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Coach Fred Rutten has paid the price for Schalke's disappointing season after being sacked after less than a year in charge.

The Dutchman replaced Mirko Slomka at the Arena AufSchalke last summer but, with the pre-season title contenders currently languishing down in eighth place in the Bundesliga table, he has been axed.

Schalke have been plagued by off-field unrest in recent weeks following the previous departure of general manager Andreas Muller.

Muller's exit had also left Rutten's future at the Gelsenkirchen club in serious doubt.

"Fred Rutten is no longer head coach of Schalke," confirmed a club statement.

"In the current season the Miners, by being knocked out in qualification for the Champions League, going out in last place in the group phase of the UEFA Cup and going out in the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal have missed all their expected sporting goals to date."

Rutten's backroom staff of coaches Mike Buskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck will take temporary charge of the team.

However, former Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has already been mentioned as a possible replacement as he has been involved in talks with the club over becoming their new general manager.