VfB Stuttgart part ways with head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo
Pellegrino Matarazzo has been relieved of his duties as VfB Stuttgart head coach, with the club winless nine matches into the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign.
Matarazzo, 44, spent almost three years in charge, taking Stuttgart into the Bundesliga six months after joining the club. The New Jersey native oversaw a ninth-placed finish in his first full season at the helm, but Die Schwaben struggled in 2021/22 and only beat the drop after securing a last-gasp win over Cologne on the final day.
Defeat to Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin this past weekend was their fourth of the current season and leaves them in 17th place. With five draws, they are the only team still to register a win in 2022/23, ahead of their relegation six-pointer at home to rock-bottom Bochum on Matchday 10.
"We were really sold on Rino's potential and capabilities as a coach, when we appointed him in 2019. He exceeded expectation, and we were always convinced he was the right man for the job during the tough times we had," said Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat.
"We went into the new campaign with high hopes following last season's last-minute escape act, but the results haven't been there. We're now at a point where we feel a parting of ways with Rino was unavoidable. We didn't take the decision lightly, and I'd like to thank Rino for his fantastic work."
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