Leverkusen sack head coach Schmidt

Berlin, March 6: German top division football club Bayer Leverkusen have sacked head coach Roger Schmidt with immediate effect.

The former Bundesliga runners-up and Schmidt parted ways after suffering a heavy 2-6 loss to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, reports Xinhua news agency. The Bundesliga club announced the decision in an official statement on Sunday.

Leverkusen not only lost their second game in row but also slumped to 10th place with 11 points in the UFEA Champions League table.

"In the light of the current sportive development, and after a very detailed analysis and briefing, we have come to the conclusion that parting company is painful but it is unavoidable for the further development of Leverkusen," chief executive Michael Schade said.

The 49-year-old Schmidt joined Leverkusen from FC Salzburg in April 2014, leading the Werkself three times into the Champions League's group stage. Leverkusen posted 62 wins, 27 draws and 36 defeats in an overall 125 games under Schmidt.

"I consider Roger Schmidt to be an absolute top coach but we had to react now if we do not want to lose our goals out of sight," Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Voeller said.

Leverkusen club officials say they want to present a new head coach soon. Bayer Leverkusen are at the 10th place in the Bundesliga standings. They will meet Werder Bremen in their next Bundesliga match on Friday.