Van no longer the man at Bayern
Louis van Gaal sacked after poor domestic record sees prospect of no Champions League in host city Munich next season.
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| Joy soon turned to pain for the Dutchman as last season’s Champions League finalists faltered [GALLO/GETTY] |
Bayern Munich have fired coach Louis van Gaal following a 1-1 draw at home to Nuremberg in the Bundesliga.
The Bavarian club confirmed on Sunday that the volatile Dutchman was no longer in charge at Germany’s biggest team after Saturday’s result left them in danger of missing out on next season’s European Champions League.
Bayern dropped to fourth after their draw and were overtaken by Hanover 96, who beat Mainz 05 2-0 on Saturday and now occupy the Champions League qualifying round spot.
Van Gaal took over before the 2009-10 season and made an immediate impact, winning the Bundesliga and German Cup and leading Bayern to the Champions League final in his first season in charge.
In September, Bayern extended his contract to the end of 2011-12 but, after a series of disappointing results, said in March that he would be leaving at the end of the current season.
With next season’s final to be staged in Munich, it would be a catastrophe for Bayern if they missed out on the Champions League.
Bayern were knocked out in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League, losing on away goals to Inter Milan after conceding a last-minute goal and losing 3-2 in the home leg despite dominating the match.