HAMBURG, Germany (AP) - Hamburger SV fired coach Bruno Labbadia on Sunday after a poor start to the season earned the club only one point from five matches, with the dismissal delivered by telephone.
Labbadia, who was also dismissed by Hamburg in 2010, was dismissed despite a tenacious performance by his team in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich on a late goal.
“We needed to change the coach to ensure a turnaround after a disappointing start,” Hamburg director Dietmar Beiersdorfer said.
Beiersdorfer said he had called Labbadia to tell him of the decision.
“Bruno told me I could do it by telephone, so I did it,” he said.
Beiersdorfer said a successor will be named during the next few days and confirmed that it has been negotiating with former Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol.
Labbadia is the second Bundesliga coach to lose his job this season. Viktor Skripnik was fired by Werder Bremen three matches into the season.
Labbadia joined Hamburg 18 months ago and saved the club from relegation in 2015. He also coached Hamburg between 2009 and 2010, when he was dismissed in April shortly before a Europa League semifinal.
Under Labbadia, Hamburg won only five of 22 matches in 2016. A former winner of the Champions Cup, Hamburg is the only founding member of the Bundesliga never to be relegated since its inception in 1963.
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