Greuter Fürth, mired in last place in the Bundesliga table, today dismissed Coach Mike Büskens, the former Schalke player and assistant who was hired to take over the Fürth coaching duties on December 27, 2009. The replacement for Büskens has yet to be named, with Furth U-23 Coach Ludwig Preis acting as caretaker coach until a permanent replacement can be found. Fürth assistant Mirko Reichel was also sacked by the club.
We are lucky that the teams above us are dropping point. It's clear that we have to take all measures necessary to take advantage of that
After an uplifting victory over Schalke on February 2, Fürth couldn't build on their win as they dropped the following games to Wolfsburg and Fortuna Düsseldorf by identical 1-0 scores, triggering .Büskens dismissal.
Büskens, 44, became a Fürth hero by guiding the club to promotion last season, topping the German second division with an outstanding 20-10-4 record and a +46 goal differential. The club's premiere season in the top flight has been extremely difficult, however, as they've only won two and drawn six of their first 22 Bundesliga matches and have scored a dismal total of 13 goals, currently worst in the league. The Cloverleaves do have a lifeline, though, despite their last-place berth in the table, with FC Augsburg and 1899 Hoffenheim struggling, too, and Hoffenheim only four points ahead in the 16th place relegation playoff spot. Sixteenth place may be the best Furth can aspire to, as 15th place Wolfsburg lead them by 14 points with only twelve league matches remaining.
A native of Düsseldorf, Büskens began his senior playing career with Fortuna in 1987. After appearing in over 100 matches for F95, Büskens began his long association with FC Schalke 04 in 1992. The midfielder played in over 250 matches for the Royal Blues in a long spell that lasted until 2004. Schalke won the UEFA Cup and two Pokal championships during Büskens time as a player. In his last active season, Büskens also was an assistant with the Schalke reserves, and continued as their coach, leading the S04 reserve side to a 53-16-27 mark between 2005 and 2008. Büskens also had two stints as interim coach of Schalke's senior squad in 2008 and again in 2009, fashioning a 9-2-6 record as interim coach. In his first full season coaching the Cloverleaves, Büskens lifted the club to a fourth place finish before winning the 2. Bundesliga last year. He was rumored to be a candidate to replace Huub Stevens as Schalke coach after Stevens' departure in December.
Büskens is the fourth Bundesliga coach to be dismissed this season, following the path of Felix Magath at Wolfsburg, Markus Babbel at Hoffenheim and Stevens.
Via: Baník Ostrava - Dynamo Ceske Budejovice [Live Football]
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