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Roberto Di Matteo resigns as Schalke head coach

Xinhua, May 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Schalke and coach Roberto Di Matteo part company due to varying viewpoints, the "Royal Blues" announced in an official statement on Tuesday.

After the analysis of the completed Bundesliga season 2014-2015 Schalke and coach Di Matteo agreed to part company, as the 44 year old coach decided to resigned due to varying viewpoints.

"Although the talks with Horst Heldt were always constructive it became clear that the club wants to set other priorities. Under these condition I can't guarantee that we will build on the success the club awaits. A new start seems to me the best for all concerned. Therefore I came to the conclusion to resign from my position as head coach," Roberto Di Matteo explained.

However, German media reported since days about the departure of Di Matteo, yet the club waited until today to make the parting public.

"Reports on a suspension of the coach on Sunday didn't corresponded to the facts," Schalke's sporting director Horst Heldt said.

Di Matteo replaced coach Jens Keller in October 2014 to leave the club after just one season. Nevertheless, the 44-year-old coach guided Schalke from the 11th to 3rd place before weak performances at the second half of the season moved the "Knappen" on the 6th place of the standings.

"Unfortunately, we all together failed to stop the downward trend," Heldt said.

Di Matteo's contract until June 2017 will be voided and his assistants will be dismissed. Endi