Stuttgart fire Markus Weinzierl

VfB Stuttgart fired coach Markus Weinzierl after the relegation-threatened Bundesliga club lost 6-0 to Augsburg.

"After the highly disappointing game in Augsburg, we have come to the conclusion that we need a clean break," said Stuttgart's head of sport Thomas Hitzlsperger in a statement.

"We did not take this decision lightly, but the success of the club comes before everything else."

Following the defeat, Weinzierl said he "didn't make a good case for myself today."

Read more: Opinion: Stuttgart's individual quality will keep them up

Stuttgart lost 15 of 23 games since Weinzierl took over in October and has not won a game since March.

The team's under-19 boss, Nico Willig, will take over to try to save the club from relegation.

With four games still to play, Stuttgart is three points above second-from-bottom Nuremberg.

amp/kl (AFP, SID)

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