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Dutchman Rutten sacked as Schalke coach

  • Story Highlights
  • Schalke lose patience with coach Fred Rutten after latest defeat to Hamburg
  • Rutten's backroom staff takes temporary charge while a new coach is sought
  • Schalke currently lie eighth in the Bundesliga and out of all cup competitions
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(CNN) -- Bundesliga Schalke have sacked Dutch coach Fred Rutten following a string of indifferent results this season.

The departure of Dutchman Rutten had been widely predicted after a string of mediocre results.

The departure of Dutchman Rutten had been widely predicted after a string of mediocre results.

Schalke were among the favorites for the German title but are down in eighth place and struggling to secure European football next season.

Rutten took over from Mirko Slomka at the Blues last summer, but lasted less than a year.

"Fred Rutten is no longer Schalke head coach," the club confirmed in a statement on its official Web site.

The statement went on: "Schalke chairman Josef Schnusenberg informed the 46-year-old of the decision at a 'very businesslike and at times emotional meeting' late this afternoon."

Schalke's current coaching team of Mike Büskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck have been handed temporary charge as the hunt for Rutten's successor begins.

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Former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been linked with the job, although initial reports suggested he would take over as the general manager in succession to Andreas Muller.

It has been a disappointing season for Schalke, who failed to qualify for the Champions League proper and then went out in the group stages of the second-tier UEFA Cup.

An exit in the quarterfinal of the German Cup ended hopes of silverware this season and their Bundesliga hopes were hardly helped by a 2-1 home defeat to title challengers Hamburg at the weekend.

It proved to be Rutten's last match in charge and reports have linked him with a return to Dutch football with struggling PSV Eindhoven.

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