Bayern Munich have fired coach Louis Van Gaal after Saturday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw against Nuremberg increased the chances of Germany's biggest club missing out on next season's Champions League. The flamboyant Dutchman had been due to leave at the end of the season but Bayern brought forward his farewell by five games after they dropped out of the Champions League qualifying-round spot.
"Bayern have given coach Louis Van Gaal leave of absence with immediate effect," the club said on their website (www.fcbayern.t-home.de) on Sunday.
Jupp Heynckes, currently at second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, has already been named as Bayern's coach for next season, his third stint at the club, and Andries Jonker would be interim coach for the rest of this term, Bayern said.
Hanover 96 replaced Bayern in third place, the Champions League qualifying-round spot, after beating Mainz 05 2-0 on Saturday. Bayern have dropped to fourth, which would mean a place in next season's Europa League, a huge indignity for Germany's biggest club.
With next season's Champions League final to be staged in Munich at their own Allianz Arena, it would be a catastrophe for Bayern if they missed out on Europe's top club competition.