Wolfsburg sack Steve McClaren

Five wins, eight draws and eight defeats in 21 games was the main factor for the dismissal of the former England boss.

McClaren joined Wolfsburg after winning the Dutch title with Twente Enschede in 2010.

Mclaren was sacked following the 1-0 defeat against Hannover 96 last weekend.

Pierre Littbarski, McClaren's former assistant, has been named as his replacement.

Wolfsburg chief executive Dieter Hoeness said: "We were not convinced that we could have a stable collaboration with Steve McClaren until the end of the season. We tried it, but unfortunately we have now lost the belief.

"Following the recent negative results we cannot underestimate our situation in the table. Being only one point clear of the relegation places, we are alarmed. Now it's just a question of increasing the gap to the relegation places as soon as possible."

Explaining  about the their decision to pick Littbarski for hot seat, Hoeness added: "We talked at great length with him. He has convinced us that he will take the necessary measures in our situation."

Wolfsburg chairman Dr Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz claimed the club gave McClaren every opportunity to turn their season around, but in the end were forced to dismiss McClaren,

"We have not seen any alternative," he said. "Of course we all want to see continuity, particularly in the coaching position. Therefore, we have been waiting a long time with the decision.

"The supervisory board and management now believe, however, that the team cannot continue under Steve McClaren," concluded Garcia Sanz.