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Leipzig fires coach Marco Rose amid Champions League qualification struggle

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Leipzig fires coach Marco Rose amid Champions League qualification struggle
Sport

Sport

Leipzig fires coach Marco Rose amid Champions League qualification struggle

2025-03-30 18:17 Last Updated At:18:20

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Jürgen Klopp’s friendship was not enough to save him.

Leipzig fired coach Marco Rose on Sunday with the team in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

The Red Bull-owned club also dismissed Rose’s coaching team of Alexander Zickler, Marco Kurth and Frank Geideck, and the head of first team soccer Frank Aehlig, in a shakeup it hopes will prompt a reaction from the team before Wednesday’s German Cup semifinal at Stuttgart.

Rose’s last game in charge was Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach, the team’s sixth successive away game without a win, and the third without scoring. It meant Gladbach moved above Leipzig to fifth in the Bundesliga while Leipzig will drop to seventh if Freiburg avoids defeat against Union Berlin on Sunday.

Only the top four qualify for the Champions League. Leipzig lost all but one of the team's eight games in the tournament this season.

“Given the development and the continued lack of results, we’re all firmly convinced that we need new impetus for the remainder of the campaign in order to achieve our aims for the season,” Leipzig sporting director Marcel Schäfer said.

Rose, who is a friend of Klopp, Red Bull’s head of global soccer since January, took over at Leipzig in September 2022 and twice led the team to Champions League qualification. He also oversaw its German Cup win in 2023.

The club said it will announce his replacement “in due course.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Gladbach players celebrate their victory over Leipzig at the end of the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, at the Borussia-Park stadium in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Saturday Match 29, 2025. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

Gladbach players celebrate their victory over Leipzig at the end of the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, at the Borussia-Park stadium in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Saturday Match 29, 2025. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

Leipzig coach Marco Rose gives instructions on the touchline during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, at the Borussia-Park stadium in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Saturday Match 29, 2025. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

Leipzig coach Marco Rose gives instructions on the touchline during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, at the Borussia-Park stadium in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Saturday Match 29, 2025. (Federico Gambarini/dpa via AP)

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing their homes due to clashes between the government and Kurdish forces in a contested area in Syria’s northern city of Aleppo.

Signs of the fighting can be seen in the damage to buildings, cars, and ammunition littering the ground, as first responders start entering the area.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

A member of Syrian security forces inspects a tunnel in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes broke out Tuesday, Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces inspects a tunnel in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes broke out Tuesday, Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces stands next to a destroyed vehicle in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A member of Syrian security forces stands next to a destroyed vehicle in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civil Defense remove a damaged car in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civil Defense remove a damaged car in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows the area in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows the area in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood where clashes broke out Tuesday Jan. 6 between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A defaced picture of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, lies on the floor in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, where clashes broke out on Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A defaced picture of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, lies on the floor in the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, where clashes broke out on Jan. 6, between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Sandbag barriers used as fighting positions by Kurdish fighters, left inside a destroyed mosque in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Burned vehicles and ammunitions left at one of the Kurdish fighters positions at the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A woman and her children react with distress as civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A woman and her children react with distress as civilians evacuate an area of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters have been taking place in the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents displaced from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods take shelter inside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents displaced from the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods take shelter inside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of Aleppo. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents carry their belongings as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A woman sits in a car with her bird as she is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods, after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A woman sits in a car with her bird as she is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods, after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A Syrian government soldier helps an old woman who is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A Syrian government soldier helps an old woman who is fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings, as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents carry their belongings, as they are fleeing from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Kafaa Abu Sheikh, right, the mother of Syrian girl Fatima al-Zahra, 4, checks on her daughter who was wounded when clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Kafaa Abu Sheikh, right, the mother of Syrian girl Fatima al-Zahra, 4, checks on her daughter who was wounded when clashes broke out between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Medics treat a Syrian man at the Al-Razi Hospital, injured during ongoing clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters, in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Medics treat a Syrian man at the Al-Razi Hospital, injured during ongoing clashes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters, in Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A car burns during clashes between Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A car burns during clashes between Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian forces officer checks the IDs of residents fleeing the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

A Syrian forces officer checks the IDs of residents fleeing the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Members of Syrian government forces deploy on the streets as they take over the Achrafieh neighborhood from Kurdish fighters during ongoing clashes that erupted Tuesday in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighbourhoods after clashes erupted Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

An aerial view shows Syrian residents in vehicles, queueing to flee from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

An aerial view shows Syrian residents in vehicles, queueing to flee from Sheikh Maqsoud and Achrafieh neighborhoods after clashes broke out on Tuesday between Syrian government forces and Kurdish fighters in a contested area of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Residents flee the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after the government declared the area a closed military zone following days of clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

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