Thomas Tuchel steps down as Mainz coach

Thomas-TuchelBerlin, May 12 : Thomas Tuchel has resigned as Mainz coach with immediate effect a year before his contract ended with the German football club.

A day after the Bundesliga season ended, Mainz announced at an official press conference Sunday that coach Thomas Tuchel asked to be released from his contract prematurely, reports Xinhua.

Tuchel informed club manager Christian Heidel in January about his resignation. However, the club and coach agreed to keep silent until the end of the season.

"Unfortunately, our success from this season fades into the backlight with this issue but we have to announce that the cooperation with Thomas Tuchel and Mainz has ended with immediate effect," club manager Christian Heidel said.

"Thomas told me in January that it was time for new ideas in Mainz and that he would not continue after the end of the current season."

The 40-year-old moved up as youth coach to become coach of the Mainz first team in 2009.

"We did everything to keep Thomas until 2015 as he assembled the whole team. We won't void the contract and Thomas knows that. He cannot join another team without our permission."

Mainz and Tuchel completed the season in seventh place with 53 points to clinch UEFA Europa League qualification. (IANS)