Luhukay has thus become the first coach within the 18 Bundesliga clubs that lost his job this season.

"We discussed the situation in depth yesterday evening and this morning, and the upshot of those talks was that we have decided to carry on without Jos Luhukay," club President Rolf Koenigs announced yesterday.

Jos Luhukay had been a hero for Moenchengladbach as he led the club to upgrade to German top league last season.

"Jos Luhukay is the coach who brought us back to the Bundesligaand we are indebted to him for that. We value him immensely both on a coaching and a personal level, but the club's current sporting situation is such that we have to part company with him," Koenigs added.

This season, Moenchengladbach merely won one out of first seven matches, and lost the rest six, resulting in the humiliating position at the league.

The club announced that sporting director Christian Ziege would take over coaching duties with the players until a full-time successor to Luhukay is appointed.

"As of now we're looking for a new coach, somebody who is right for the club and for the players. We'll go about it in a calm and selective manner, there will be no quick fire appointments. In that context, I've agreed to coach the players for the time being," Ziege said.