Schalke fire Tedesco after Champions League capitulation

Schalke sacked manager Domenico Tedesco two days after a 7-0 thumping by Manchester City knocked the struggling German side out of the Champions League.

Tedesco also leaves the Gelsenkirchen-based outfit in 14th place in the Bundesliga - four points above the relegation zone.

"This was anything but an easy decision because Domenico Tedesco is held in very high esteem at Schalke," sporting director Jochen Schneider said in a statement. "He led a very positive development last season that was crowned by finishing second in the league, but we can't let that distract from the negative progress of this season."

The 33-year-old became one of the youngest coaches in the Bundesliga when he was appointed in June 2017. He had only coached briefly in the second tier before accepting the Schalke gig.

Tedesco earned his badges while finishing top of his class at the German football association - even ahead of contemporary and current Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann.

But Tedesco struggled to replicate his early success. Schalke plummeted down the standings as the 2018-19 campaign wore on. A string of six defeats in seven matches - including the humbling loss to City - spelt the end.