Schalke coach Rangnick leaves club

Coach Ralf Rangnick has left Schalke 04, the Bundesliga club said yesterday. Rangnick, 47, announced on Friday he planned to step down when his contract ran out at the end of the season since he had become disillusioned with the German club's management.

Yesterday Schalke said they had put Rangnick on leave with immediate effect. The spark would appear to have been Rangnick's decision to walk round the pitch applauding the fans before Saturday's home match against Mainz in what looked like a farewell lap of honour.

Schalke's fans hailed Rangnick, many urging him to stay, but club manager Rudi Assauer was infuriated.

"I find it unprofessional to do something like that," Assauer told German media.

Rangnick insisted he had simply approached the fans after hearing them call out his name.