Wolfsburg sack former England manager Steve McClaren

VfL Wolfsburg sacked former England coach Steve McClaren on Monday, replacing him with his assistant Pierre Littbarski.                                           

"VfL have parted ways with Steve McClaren," Wolfsburg said in a statement, two days after a 1-0 defeat by Hanover 96 left the 2009 Bundesliga champions in 12th place, just a point above the relegation play-off spot.

"We were not convinced any more that we could work with Steve McClaren in a solid way until the end of the season," said Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hoeness.      

Wolfsburg have managed only one win in their last 11 league games.   

McClaren became the first English coach at the helm of a Bundesliga club after joining Wolfsburg in the summer, fresh from steering Dutch side Twente Enschede to their maiden Dutch title.    

But he failed to make an impact despite hanging on for half a season to the club's top striker Edin Dzeko, who moved on to Manchester City in the recent transfer window for a reported £30 million. 

McClaren failed too to get the best out of talented midfielder Diego, who blatantly ignored McClaren's instructions not to take a penalty in Saturday's defeat by Hanover.