Bundesliga bottom club Mainz 05 parted ways with coach Bo Henriksen on Wednesday after a run of eight matches without a win, which has left them at the bottom of the German Bundesliga.
As early as Sunday evening, sporting director Niko Bungert had announced a comprehensive analysis of the desperate situation and declined to back up coach Henriksen.
After two days of intensive deliberations, it is now clear: The heavy 0-4 defeat at SC Freiburg, in which Mainz 05 managed only a single shot on goal in 90 minutes, was one defeat too many for the Dane.
The 50-year-old was dismissed from his position as head coach, with Under-23 coach Benjamin Hoffmann taking over training temporarily.
"Mainz 05 owes Bo Henriksen a great deal," sporting director Christian Heidel stated in a club press release. "In a seemingly hopeless situation, he rallied the club and the entire city, leading us to safety with his empathetic and passionate approach, and even to promotion to the Conference League a year later."
"However, in football there are "always developments that necessitate a reorientation for sporting reasons - although all those involved worked together with all their might to find solutions until the very end", as Heidel assures: "Together with Bo we have come to the realization that we have reached such a point, even if the separation really hurts."
Bo Henriksen successfully led Mainz 05 out of the relegation zone during the 2023/24 season, a feat he accomplished shortly after being appointed in February 2024.