Hoffenheim part company with coach Stanislawaki

Feb 9, 2012, 14:46 GMT

Berlin - Bundesliga club Hoffenheim parted company with coach Holger Stanislawski on Thursday, a day after the team's exit from the German Cup.

Hoffenheim confirmed an agreement had been reached with the coach to end his contract, which had more than another two years to run.

Wednesday's 1-0 quarter-final home defeat against second division Gruether Fuerth had followed criticism by club patron Dietmar Hopp who had been quoted as saying he could not see a clear strategy.

Stanislawski was appointed Hoffenheim coach in the summer from second-division St Pauli. The team is lying eighth in the table, just five points above the danger zone, after a spell of only one victory in the Bundesliga in the last 10 games.

No announcement was made on a possible successor, but dpa learnt that Markus Babbel, formerly at Hertha Berlin, is the top candidate and could be presented on Friday.

Hoffenheim said in a statement the decision to part company with Stanislawski had come 'by mutual agreement.'

General manager Ernst Tanner said: 'We have a high regard for Holger Stanislawski as a person and as an expert coach.

'But after a long and constructive talk with him we have come to the conclusion that it is better in the interests of all concerned to end the cooperation.

'The recent sporting development was certainly the decisive factor.'

Stanislawski's assistant trainers Andre Trulsen and Klaus-Peter Nemet also leave the club.

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