Advocaat resigns as M'gladbach boss

Dutchman Dick Advocaat resigned as Borussia Moenchengladbach coach less than six months into the job yesterday after they slipped to within a point of the Bundesliga relegation zone.

Advocaat, who led the Netherlands to the Euro 2004 semi-finals, was appointed in November but failed to turn round the team's fortunes. They were 14th when he took over and are now 15th in the 18-team standings.

"In the current situation the well being of the club was paramount. I think that I will take pressure off the club and the team with my resignation and hope to give them the push Borussia needs to stay up," he said.

Banners urging Advocaat to quit greeted him on Saturday when his team conceded an injury time goal to draw 1-1 with Mainz. Bochum, directly beneath them, won 2-1 at Kaiserslautern on Sunday.

There are only five league matches left and Moenchengladbach have four games against teams vying for European qualification spots.

Horst Koeppel, trainer of the club's amateur side, has been appointed caretaker coach. The club beat Bayern Munich under Koeppel's brief stewardship in October.

The five-times German champions and 1975 and 1979 UEFA Cup winners have just seven league victories this season. They also lost in the first round of the German Cup before Advocaat took charge.

The Dutchman brought in seven new players during the winter break at a cost of €3.5 million, but his side have gained a modest 18 points from his 18 matches in charge and are without a win in their last five games.

Moenchengladbach were a dominant force in German football in the 1970s, winning the Bundesliga in 1970 and 1971 and from 1975 to 1977. They also reached the 1977 European Cup final, losing 3-1 to Liverpool.

Advocaat's contract, originally until June 2007, will be terminated at the end of June. He has signalled he will not seek compensation.