Stuttgart FC

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• Manager:Jens Keller

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Stuttgart axe falls on Babbel

07 Dec 2009 - 07:16:12

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VfB Stuttgart have sacked head coach Markus Babbel after just over a year in charge, with Christian Gross taking charge at the struggling Bundesliga club.

Thirty-seven-year-old former Germany defender Babbel led Die Schwaben to third place in the table in his first season in charge, but this time around Stuttgart have struggled badly and a 1-1 home draw with Bochum left them down in the relegation places.

A statement on the club's official website confirmed: "Markus Babbel is no longer the coach of VfB Stuttgart.

"The executive committee of the club relieved he and coaches Rainer Widmayer and Alexander Zorniger of their positions on Sunday.

"This decision came after several discussions with the coaching team. Markus took charge on November 23, 2008 and led the club to third place in the table last season."

Babbel had said after the weekend draw: "That was a very difficult game. The atmosphere in the stadium contributed to our instability and the team were unable to shake off that uncertainty."

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Swiss Gross arrives on an initial deal running until the end of the season, having made his name in his homeland with Grasshoppers Zurich and FC Basel.