Struggling Hannover fires Thomas Schaaf as coach

HANNOVER, Germany (AP) — Struggling Bundesliga side Hannover fired Thomas Schaaf as coach Sunday in a bid for top-flight survival.

Hannover said the decision was taken following "intensive analysis" by club chief Martin Kind and sporting director Martin Bader involving Schaaf and that former under-19 coach Daniel Stendel would take over to the end of the season.

"We have certainly not made an easy decision. Thomas has always been meticulous and focused on his work to get positive results for the team. Unfortunately it hasn't worked out," Badar said in a statement.

Schaaf, who coached Werder Bremen for 14 years, had taken over Hannover during the Bundesliga's winter break but managed only one win in 11 matches.

"After the 10th defeat in 11 games, we came to the decision that we don't want to end the season like that and that we'll try to give the team a new impulse with a coaching change," Bader said.

As Hannover was 11 points from safety with six games remaining, Badar said the club knew that survival was "only very theoretically possible."

Assistant coaches Wolfgang Rolff and Matthias Hoenerbach were also let go.