February 12 – In what is surely one of the shortest high-profile managerial stints on record, former German national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann has stepped down as Hertha Berlin’s interim head coach after just 10 weeks in charge citing a lack of support and trust.
The former World Cup winner replaced Ante Covic in late November with Hertha in the Bundesliga’s relegation zone.
The club spent more than €70 million in the January window but have managed only one win in their past five league games and are 14th in the table. Despite the outlay Klinsmann still claimed he did not have the “trust of all those involved”.
“We were on a good path and despite difficult games had moved six points away from the relegation spots. I am totally convinced that Hertha will stay up,” Klinsmann, who also managed the US national team from 2011 to 2016, said in a statement.
“But for that task to be completed, as head coach I need the trust of all those involved. In the fight against relegation unity, solidarity and concentration are the key elements. If they are not guaranteed then I cannot deliver on my full potential as a coach and cannot live up to my responsibilities.”
The former Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan striker will now return to his previous role on Hertha’s supervisory board.
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