Ex-Leverkusen boss Sascha Lewandowski dies aged 44

One of German football's most promising coaching talents, Sascha Lewandowski, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning aged just 44, police confirmed Thursday.

Lewandowski is best known for managing Bayer Leverkusen over two stints and for overseeing second-tier Union Berlin until he was forced to step down from the latter on medical advice in March. He was suffering a fatigue syndrome which caused functional cardiac irregularities, according to ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld.

(Courtesy: @bayer04fussball)

"I hoped that a short break would be enough to significantly reduce the afflictions. But sadly that just wasn't the case," Lewandowski said at the time of his resignation, before stating it would take months "until I am my old self again."

Lewandowski played a pivotal role in producing some of the Bundesliga's finest talent through the Leverkusen youth academy, including Kevin Kampl, Julian Brandt, and Gonzalo Castro.

"We are devastated and incredibly sad," Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler said. "Our deepest sympathy belongs to the family and relatives of Sascha Lewandowski."