Stuttgart sack coach Alexander Zorniger after bad start

Stuttgart, who have narrowly avoiding relegation in the past two seasons, lost 4-0 at home to Augsburg on Saturday and sit in 16th place, two points above bottom spot.

"It was particularly the way we lost on Saturday that concerned us," said club president Bernd Wahler in a brief statement.

"We analysed the effects on the team and the coaching staff and we took this decision this morning."

A former assistant coach at Stuttgart, the 47-year-old Zorniger signed a three-year contract in May after coaching Leipzig.

Stuttgart have put under-23 team coach Juergen Kramny in temporary charge.