Schalke sack Stevens

Huub Stevens has been sacked as coach of Schalke following their 3-1 defeat to Freiburg yesterday, a result which leaves the club outside the top six of the Bundesliga going into the winter break. Schalke have picked up just two points from their last six matches, a run which has cost the Dutchman his job, despite leading the club to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League as group winners. Youth team coach Jens Keller has been placed in charge of the club for Tuesday's DFB-Pokal tie with Mainz. Stevens learned of his fate this morning after a board meeting last night in the wake of the club's latest defeat. The Dutchman, who was recently voted as the club's coach of the century in a fans' poll, has paid the price for a recent slump in form, despite still having the backing of his players. "He still has the fire burning in him and he is accepted well by the team," said midfielder Jermaine Jones to Sky television prior to yesterday's defeat. "I think we should quickly move away from blaming the coach. I think it is purely a team thing." The Gelsenkirchen-based club have analysed the situation differently, though, ending Stevens' second spell at the club today. A statement on the club's website says that the decision "was anything but easy for those involved." Keller, who has previous Bundesliga coaching experience in a two-month spell in charge of Stuttgart in 2010/11, will take over until further notice, with Stevens' assistant Markus Gisdol also relieved of his duties. The Dutchman's contract was due to expire in the summer and negotiations over a new deal were due to be held over the winter break.