Heynckes in for Klinsmann at Bayern

Jürgen Klinsmann has parted company with FC Bayern München after a 1-0 home defeat by FC Schalke 04 on Saturday left the German champions third in the Bundesliga. Jupp Heynckes will take the reins until the end of the season, returning to the club 18 years after his first spell ended.

'Obvious course of action' 
"After the results of recent weeks the management saw that even our minimum goals for the season were now in danger and decided this was the obvious course of action," Bayern said in a statement. "The board would like to thank Jürgen Klinsmann and his coaching team for their work at the club, and wishes them the very best for the future."

Mixed results
Klinsmann arrived at Bayern on a two-year contract last summer and though he initially enjoyed a measure of success – his side enjoying a 17-match unbeaten run – their campaign is threatening to unravel. A 5-1 aggregate quarter-final defeat by FC Barcelona spelt the end of the Bavarian giants' UEFA Champions League ambitions, with the 4-0 loss at Camp Nou being one of seven reverses in 17 games in all competitions. That sequence also includes Bayern's German Cup elimination and Saturday's defeat by Schalke.

'Eventful time'
The 44-year-old Klinsmann, along with assistants Martin Vasquez and Nick Theslof, have felt the cost of that latest loss, which left Bayern three points behind Bundesliga leaders VfL Wolfsburg. "Of course I'm very disappointed right now," the former Germany coach said. "But I want to thank the fans, coaches, players and staff of FC Bayern München for an eventful time. We have laid the foundations for the future. I'm still convinced the team will be champions come the end of the season."

Heynckes entrusted
Heynckes is the man appointed to ensure that happens, and the 63-year-old certainly has a good track record. He guided Bayern to two Bundesliga titles during his first period in charge between 1987 and 1991, and will be assisted on his return by Hermann Gerland, the coach of Bayern's reserve side. Heynckes brings the wealth of knowledge accrued from a career that has taken in spells at SL Benfica, Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Madrid CF, the peak coming in 1998 when he steered Madrid to their first UEFA Champions League crown in 32 years. He has been away from the game since January 2007 when he split with VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern's opponents on Saturday.