In what can only be described as a bizzare series of events, Hamburg have sacked coach Bruno Labbadia only three days before the club's Europa League semi-final second leg tie against Fulham.
After failing to make home advantage tell in Thursday's first-leg 0-0 draw against the Cottagers, Hamburg were drubbed 5-1 at Hoffenheim on Sunday.
"We saw that as things were we would not be able to succeed against Fulham," club chairman Bernd Hoffmann said.
Assistant coach Ricardo Moniz will take charge until the end of the season.
Labbadia succeeded former Tottenham boss Martin Jol at the northern German club last summer, enjoying a successful start to the season.
However, they won just four of their 15 Bundesliga games since the winter break.
Sunday's loss to their mid-table opponents leaves them seventh in the table, five points behind nearest rivals Stuttgart, who hold the last European berth with just two games remaining.
Hamburg's hopes qualifying for Europe next season, therefore, effectively rest on winning the Europa League trophy at their own stadium on 12 May.
"There was no alternative to this," added Hoffmann. "We need to improve the probability of us being successful on Thursday."
After failing to make home advantage tell in Thursday's first-leg 0-0 draw against the Cottagers, Hamburg were drubbed 5-1 at Hoffenheim on Sunday.
"We saw that as things were we would not be able to succeed against Fulham," club chairman Bernd Hoffmann said.
Assistant coach Ricardo Moniz will take charge until the end of the season.
Labbadia succeeded former Tottenham boss Martin Jol at the northern German club last summer, enjoying a successful start to the season.
However, they won just four of their 15 Bundesliga games since the winter break.
Sunday's loss to their mid-table opponents leaves them seventh in the table, five points behind nearest rivals Stuttgart, who hold the last European berth with just two games remaining.
Hamburg's hopes qualifying for Europe next season, therefore, effectively rest on winning the Europa League trophy at their own stadium on 12 May.
"There was no alternative to this," added Hoffmann. "We need to improve the probability of us being successful on Thursday."
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