Schalke manager Roberto Di Matteo has left the club after a spell that lasted only seven months.
Di Matteo was appointed at the helm of the Ruhr outfit in October last year following the departure of Jans Keller and through the course of his tenure the Italian has guided them to a sixth place finish in the Bundesliga.
The Royal Blues have been regular Champions League qualifiers in the past seasons and this year they exited the competition at the round of 16 stage following their defeat to Real Madrid. However, they have failed to qualify for the elite competition this term.
In a statement released by the club website, Di Matteo said: “The frustration of the unsatisfactory second half is too big.
“Under these conditions I cannot guarantee the success that a club like FC Schalke 04 expect.
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“Therefore I think a fresh start is best for a club and its supporters who have become very close to my heart.”
Schalke were lying 11th in the table when the former Chelsea boss took charge of the club and has guided them to a top half finish.
However, his position was undermined after an alarming slump towards the end of the season when they registered just two wins from their last ten games.
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