Western Sydney have pulled the trigger on under-fire coach Markus Babbel, axing the German midway through his three-year contract.
It comes in the wake of Sunday night’s 1-0 A-League loss to an under-strength Perth Glory at Bankwest Stadium.
The former Liverpool defender becomes the third A-League coach to be sacked this season after Marco Kurz at Melbourne Victory and Ernie Merrick at Newcastle.
“It is unfortunate that we have needed to take this course of action because we have a great relationship with Markus,” Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer said in a statement.
“However we firmly believe that we have a great squad and the results are most definitely not reflective of the ability of the players at this club and certainly do not reflect the aspirations of the Western Sydney Wanderers Football Club.
“We have total faith in the group of players here at the Wanderers and look forward to pushing on with renewed vigour towards the finals series.”
Pressure had been building on Babbel for several months, with the Wanderers winning just four games so far this season, equalling just 10 wins from his 41 games in charge.
There were high expectations for the Wanderers this season with new training facilities and a move into the state-of-the-art Bankwest Stadium.
However, the Wanderers remain ninth on the ladder, four points out of the top six after 14 games, with little signs of improvement.
Babbel has consistently denied feeling anything but support from the club, and when asked if Sunday night was his final game in charge of the Wanderers, he said: “Don’t worry, I’m a fighter.”
With a bye this weekend, it was expected the club would wait for the return of chairman Paul Lederer, but acted swiftly given the backlash from Sunday night’s loss to Glory.
NewsCorp reports the entire coaching staff were called to an emergency meeting at the club’s training ground on Monday morning to discuss the decision.
There is now two weeks before the Wanderers face Central Coast in Gosford on February 2, with assistant Jean-Paul de Marigny to take over as caretaker coach, assisted by former player Labinot Haliti.
Following Sunday’s loss, Wanderers captain Mitchell Duke told Fox Sports there was a growing frustration within the playing group, who were aware that Babbel’s time had come.
“There’s been a sense it came to the point a couple of weeks ago, he was like ‘I could either throw in the towel and give up or I can keep fighting’,” Duke told the broadcaster.
“He said it’s not in his nature to give up. He wanted to keep going. He’s passionate, he loves football even now as a coach. He’s passionate and he doesn’t want to give up. He’s a fighter to the end.
“He’s made that clear and he wants us to look in the mirror and have that same demeanour about ourselves. Unfortunately we’re not quite putting it out on the pitch and she’s getting frustrating.”
Jo Salazar
Roar Rookie
Good win for the Wanderers.
TK
Guest
I know what you are saying but he started year 1 with all his choice of players and he told us 'he knew what needed to be done' when his appointment was announced. I think he has underestimated the quality of some of the teams to be honest.
TK
Guest
I think roar are still hanging on by a thread. The only two players performing over the last month have really been Inman and Jamie Young and both their efforts have saved us. I think we have been awful and we were awful again in the first half against the Nix and even though we came back in the second half, (thanks Wenzell-Halls - clearly the crowd knew who the team needed on the pitch judging from the roar of support when the announcement was made he was coming on), the first half performance was a big worry. I'm not convinced Brown is the answer he had acres of space to run into and attack as he would have done in the old days - but didn't. Whether this was his doing or under instructions I don't know - but he was pretty absent for most of the match - possibly unfit - surprised he even got a run given the lack of game time he played at Victory and the fact that he came straight into the squad did shows how desperate we are for some spark coming out of the 'wingbacks'. McDonald I'm not sure - aging legs but an old head...maybe paired with Wenzell Halls we might see a decent striking partnership. I find some of RF's post match commentary very much at odds with what we observe on the pitch from the stands - he might have a possession based plan, but it is ponderous progress around the pitch and nobody fears our attack. It was a massive contrast watching the Nix who were direct and constantly attacked up the middle of the park while we played the usual approach of pump it out to the sidelines and hope for some miracle from a cross - Neville is the only once who appears to be able to head the ball so I'd like to see a more direct attack on goal - it seems to suit Wenzell Halls style too. That was a very well taken goal he scored ad he has always known where the target is. Anyway - many games to go, but RF must be at least taking notice that 3 of his colleagues have been given the axe and would have to be working hard to make sure he isn't number 4. So far he's managed a 1 -1 draw with the cellar dwellars Newcastle (their only point gained in 5 matches), a 2 - 1 win against the wanderers who are third last and diabolical, a draw with City (a good result but City were pretty ordinary when they visited) and a hard fought win against the Nix, who ran through us multiple times in the first 45 but we escaped unscathed. Inman scored all but one of these goals in the ast month and Jamie Young saved us from certain defeat in at least two of those games. If the remaining 9 roar players can pull their fingers out and start moving on the field instead of standing about ball watching whichever team mate is in possession we might be competitive over the next 4 games - they also need to stop passing the ball to the opposition and panicking with clearances when they have all the time in the world to play a better ball . Plenty of that on the weekend too. Anyway - all part and parcel of the experience of football - fingers crossed it does improve for us.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Yea, I know, just stiring the pot. Foxe is most likely content in the Assistant role, but as a westie boy (Winston Hills) would be good to have him back
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Get well soon Anon
bobbym
Roar Rookie
Go and get Arthur Pappas and a decent skillful midfielder
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Foxe was unbeaten in his short stint as caretaker but as soon as Gumby appeared on the scene you quickly got the impression he would be on his way. I was at Mel City for his first game in charge and seriously it was clear that there was going to be conflicts galore and it would end in tears...... it was a terrible appointment and by that I am referring to personality and fitting in, nothing to do with coaching ability. He fell out with Riera day one as he was showing who was the boss in a fashion that he didn’t need to.
anon
Roar Pro
More drama in the A-League!
con
Guest
10 wins from some 45 odd games I read somewhere GEEZ what was the owner of WSW hoping for lol , he may be rich but he certainly has not got a football brain .and his CEO and the whole committee ,where there just leave it to a coach but no one is overlooking the coach ,you could see his body language and his potty mouth and his geriatric recruiting ,he than makes a statement that his players need more training that some how half way thru the season they r not fit bloody hell what were the heads of WSW waiting for as for the assistant he is a trouble maker and he was a trouble maker at Melbourne victory
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
i actually think Kurz would be a good fit for Newcastle, experienced squad. it needs a task master
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Loved butchers red card , in front of 24000 at Newcastle in the semi . Season 2
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Mark Jones. 3 wins in 27 games Nick theorodokopoid ,, zero wins in 6 at Newcastle. Van egmond took over and won 25 of the next 40 games.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Any payout he gets , will be lost in paying the endless tolls to drive out of Sydney . I reckon Babbel could easily be a better option at the jets for kantarovski , sign him up .
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
:silly: :silly:
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Could Babbel be persuaded to turn his Tattoo into a tribute to the VAR
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Was Jp rumoured to be problematic at the jets ? I vaguely think so Wasn’t jp the victory cosch who ran on the field like an idiot in the semi v Sydney ?
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Brisbane are one win behind Wellington with a game in hand Yet ufuk is a great coach and Fowler is a hack . Might be best to see how they fare over 2 seasons at least
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Football is life Sorry mate .. Klopp will always be ahead of Ole . Love the man for what he did as a player, but time to ask senor potchetinno to become a red .
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Fox and Popa are a winning combo. No chance
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
As I have always said,. it takes time for a gaffer and his lads to gel. I agree that Fowler is displaying a lot of smarts. They are starting to gain traction and the longer they go the better they'll get. Fowler's comments about seeing the potential in Inman and his development of Wenzel-Halls, making him do the work comes from experience and knowledge you cannot buy. The lad's finish on saturday night was a screamer. I would not be surprised if there's the odd Skype chat with his good mate Stevie G.