Tuchel steps down as Mainz coach

Thomas Tuchel has resigned as coach of 1. FSV Mainz 05 despite having secured the club a place in the UEFA Europa League next season.

Mainz sealed their spot in Europe by defeating Hamburger SV 3-2 on Saturday, but they will begin their campaign with another coach at the helm after Tuchel opted not to see out his contract, due to run until 2015.

"He told me that his role in the club's success is getting smaller and smaller and that the team is becoming more and more responsible for their success," explained sporting director Christian Heidel. "He doesn't know how to improve on the level of success that is currently being achieved.

"It's a very difficult situation for Mainz and one that we were not prepared for," added Heidel. "We cannot praise enough how things have gone over the last few months of the season and I want to use this opportunity to thank Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff from the bottom of my heart."

Tuchel took over the reins in 2009 and steered them to a place in UEFA Europa League qualifying in 2011/2012, before repeating the feat with a seventh-place finish in the Bundesliga this term. "Everyone can be 100% certain that we will have a new coach by the time our training sessions and preparations for the new season begin," said Heidel. "But it will have to be a coach who fits the club."