Hamburg sack Labbadia

Frisbee

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8644181.stm

Hamburg have sacked coach Bruno Labbadia only three days before the club's Europa League semi-final second leg tie against Fulham.

After failing to make home advantage tell in Thursday's first-leg 0-0 draw against the Cottagers, Hamburg were drubbed 5-1 at Hoffenheim on Sunday.

"We saw that as things were we would not be able to succeed against Fulham," club chairman Bernd Hoffmann said.

Assistant coach Ricardo Moniz will take charge until the end of the season.

Labbadia succeeded former Tottenham boss Martin Jol at the northern German club last summer, enjoying a successful start to the season.

However, they won just four of their 15 Bundesliga games since the winter break.

Sunday's loss to their mid-table opponents leaves them seventh in the table, five points behind nearest rivals Stuttgart, who hold the last European berth with just two games remaining.

Hamburg's hopes qualifying for Europe next season, therefore, effectively rest on winning the Europa League trophy at their own stadium on 12 May.

"There was no alternative to this," added Hoffmann. "We need to improve the probability of us being successful on Thursday."

Labbadia had admitted that Sunday's performance was "depressing" but angrily dismissed rumours he had lost the dressing room.

"If a team were to play against their coach, then they would also be playing against themselves," he said. "That would make no sense."

The 44-year-old played for Hamburg and Bayern Munich among others during a prolific goalscoring career as a striker in Germany, and won two caps for the national side.

He began his career in management with Darmstadt 98 in 2003, moving on to Greuther Furth before joining Hamburg from Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite their erratic league form, Labbadia had led his troops to the verge of a European final.

They qualified second behind Israeli side Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Europa League's Group C, beating Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead and drawing with the Glaswegians 0-0 in Germany.

After negotiating PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Standard Liege in the knock-out stages, Hamburg endured a frustrating evening against Roy Hodgson's well-organised west London outfit last week.

Labbadia rued his side's profligacy in wide positions after that stalemate but remained ultra-confident they could advance in Thursday's return leg at Craven Cottage.

"Unfortunately, when we did manage to get down the flanks, the delivery was too inaccurate," he said.

"We'll probably have it easier in England, though, because Fulham will be forced to attack. It's going to be very tight, but I believe my team will secure their place in the final."

However, it will now be 45-year-old Dutchman Moniz, a former member of Spurs' backroom staff who followed Jol to Hamburg, who has the task of trying to take the Germans to a decider against either Atletico Madrid or Liverpool.

"He is incredibly enthusiastic, knows the team and English football well and lives for football," said Hoffmann of Labbadia's interim replacement.

Seems like madness to do this right before a European Semi Final.

pickarooney

I didn't even realise Jol was gone. Was he not doing the business there?

leninbenjamin

pickarooney wrote: »

I didn't even realise Jol was gone. Was he not doing the business there?

went to Ajax,

Warper

Ya the 5-1 hammering on Sunday forced him out. I think this is kinda bad news for Fulham as teams normally improve (if only for a little while) after the manager is sacked. That said Fulham are performing miracles in Europe this season.

leninbenjamin

Moniz is supposed to be a good coach. Be interesting to see how he does as manager, could be a Chris Hughton jobby...

DubDani

Moniz will only be there to the end of the season. He already has agreed a contract with Red Bull to become the new worldwide coaching co-ordinator for all their teams.

The Hamburg team was playing against their coach, and it might well give them the extra bit they need. But I don't think any professional needs extra motivation in a European Semi final. Most of them will probably never have the chance to be in one.

But considering that Hamburg has huge injury problems (Elia, Janssen, RVN, Demel, Trochowski, Torun, Ze Roberto) it might still be advantage fulham.

leninbenjamin

DubDani wrote: »

Moniz will only be there to the end of the season. He already has agreed a contract with Red Bull to become the new worldwide coaching co-ordinator for all their teams.

They own more than Salzburg? How the hell will that job work?

Mitch Connor

leninbenjamin wrote: »

They own more than Salzburg? How the hell will that job work?

They own Red Bull Brazil, Leipzig, Salzburg and New York. Leipzig and Brazil play in low level leagues

DubDani

leninbenjamin wrote: »

They own more than Salzburg? How the hell will that job work?

There are several Red Bull Soccer teams around the globe, i.e. Salzburg, Leipzig, NY etc., and he will be kind of a coach co-ordinator and trainer for all of them.

Gillington

Surprised Oatsey didnt post this up,thought it was a bit strange timing,but yeah apparantley he was hated by most of his players and fans alike