Bayer Leverkusen Fire Manager Roger Schmidt As Season Unravels

After a disappointing Bundesliga campaign that finds them in 10th, Bayer Leverkusen have decided to relieve Roger Schmidt of his coaching duties. Schmidt was in his third season with the club before getting the sack.

The final straw was a devastating 6-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund. It was Leverkusen's fourth loss in six Bundesliga games. 

In the eyes of many, this season has been viewed as a massive underachievement considering that Schmidt guided Leverkusen to a fourth place finish in 2014-15 and then a third place finish last year. The team is still alive in the Champions League, but they travel to Madrid to play Atletico staring at a 2-4 deficit.

Turkish manager Tayfun Korkut will inherit a talented roster, but it remains to be seen what will happen to the likes of Javier Hernandez, Hakan Calhanoglu and Julian Brandt in the offseason. They certainly won't be playing Champions League football next season in Leverkusen.

It's difficult to say why Leverkusen have struggled so mightily this season, but the fault, as always, begins with the manager of the team. Schmidt had two great years as coach, but he takes the blame this season.

Tayan Korkut will now be charged with changing the pattern at Bayer. They'll go into their match against Atletico with nothing to lose.

Tayfun Korkut will replace Roger Schmidt and has signed a contract through the end of the season.

Today he held his first press conference. pic.twitter.com/JT6rTRZLpe

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 6, 2017

Korkut represented the Turkish national team in his playing days, as well Fenerbahce, Real Sociedad and Espanyol. He's previously managed Hannover 96 and Kaiserslautern.

Before the start of the season, Leverkusen were tipped to be one of the dark horses at the top of the Bundlesliga, right behind the likes of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Korkut believes that he will be able to instill a new pulse within the team to achieve their goals.

With this coaching move, Leverkusen is hoping to finish on a positive note that would portray how good of a club Leverkusen actually is, enticing their better players to stick with Korkut. They have to fight for the remainder of the season, as well as try to make a comeback against Atletico on March 15.