Di Matteo resigns as Schalke coach

Berlin: Roberto di Matteo has

stepped down as coach of Schalke after a disappointing

season that saw the Gelsenkirchen outfit finish only sixth in the Bundesliga, a club statement announced on

Tuesday. The Italian, who had won the 2012 Champions League with

Chelsea, had been in charge since October after his predecessor Jens Keller was sacked, but last Saturday’s 0- 2 defeat at home to strugglers Hamburg looks to have been the last

straw for Schalke’s board. The 44- year- old, who coached Chelsea to the 2012 Champions

League title, had steered the Royal Blues up from 11th when he took charge to third in the

table in February. But a poor run of results saw them surrender a direct spot in the Champions League and their latest defeat left them sixth in the table and in the Europa League next season. Di Matteo announced he was resigning after a meeting with club chairman Horst Heldt dur

ing which they failed to reach agreement on the way forward.