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Breitenreiter to leave

jc (dpa/sid)May 14, 2016

Schalke have announced that coach André Breitenreiter will be leaving the club, after failing to get the Royal Blues back to the Champions League. Rumors are already swirling about a potential successor.

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Bundesliga FC Schalke 04 vs BVB Dortmund
Image: Getty Images/P.Stollarz

Andre Breitenreiter's tenure in Gelsenkirchen is ending after only one season. Ahead of Schalke's final match against Hoffenheim, the club said via Twitter that the Royal Blues and the coach would be going their separate ways.

Breitenreiter confirmed in a statement: "I'll be sitting on the Schalke bench for the last time this match."

The 42-year-old was brought to Gelsenkirchen from relegated Paderborn at the end of last season. Initially, Breitenreiter won the affection of much of the Royal Blue faithful for his relatively down-to-earth manner.

But Schalke management grew frustrated with the team's inconsistency. And although Breitenreiter engineered a top-seven finish, good enough for the Europa League, the Royal Blues have decided on change at the top.

Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl is one prominent name that has been linked with the Schalke job.