Nuremberg part company with Michael Köllner

Nuremberg have won just twice since gaining promotion to the Bundesliga in 2018, with their last league victory coming at home to Fortuna Düsseldorf on 29 September 2018.

Der Club slipped back to the foot of the standings following a 2-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Hannover last weekend, and were also knocked out of the DFB Cup by Bundesliga 2 side Hamburg just days earlier.

Current co-coach Boris Schommers and club legend Marek Mintal have been placed in interim charge.

Sporting director Andreas Bornemann has also been relieved of his duties.

"The board would like to thank Andreas Bornemann and Michael Köllner for the success we had together," said Nuremberg chairman Dr. Thomas Grethlein. "Our task is now to find a sporting director to take over sporting affairs and whose first job will be to find the right coach for Nuremberg."

Köllner was promoted to first-team duties from the Nuremberg reserves in May 2017. The 49-year-old oversaw 17 wins in his debut season at the helm as the Bavarian-Franconian outfit finished second behind Düsseldorf to seal their place back in the top flight following their relegation in 2013/14.

Nuremberg have occupied a place in the Bundesliga's bottom three since mid-December, however, and sit bottom of the current standings - three points behind the relegation play-off spot and six adrift of outright safety with 13 rounds of fixtures remaining. They have also scored the fewest (17) and conceded the second highest number of goals (46).

Nuremberg are next in action at home to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund on 18 February.