Mainz coach Bo Svensson
Bo Svensson has been sacked as head coach of Mainz in the German professional soccer Bundesliga, where South Korean midfielder Lee Jae-sung plays.
“After lengthy internal discussions, we have decided to part ways with coach Svensson,” Mainz said on its website on Tuesday (local time).
Mainz Under-23 coach Jan Zibert will take over on an interim basis to fill the coaching void.
Svensson was the man who brought Lee Jae-sung to Mainz from the Bundesliga’s second division in 2021.
Lee Jae-sung, who was considering a move in the summer of 2021, said he chose Mainz because of Svensson’s passion for him.
Under Svensson, Mainz established themselves as a mid-table team in the league, finishing 8th in 2021-2022 and 9th in 2022-2023.
This season, however, the club has struggled mightily with three draws and six losses in nine regular-season games, dropping to 18th in the league. It’s the first time they’ve had to worry about relegation since their promotion to the first division in 2009-2010.
Not only were they out of the league, but also out of the DFB-Pokal, their cup competition.
The day before, the team had lost 0-3 away to Hertha Berlin in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Svensson told the club: “It’s very difficult to say goodbye. “I will not be part of the club’s new plans, but Mainz must work together to overcome the crisis,” he said. 19가이드03