Regional league soccer club FC Carl Zeiss Jena has released the coaching team around head coach René Klingbeil. After an "intensive and in-depth analysis and evaluation of the first half of the season and the associated sporting development of the entire team", according to the press release on Friday, "the decision was made to make a change in the composition of the coaching team as part of the overall strategic orientation of the club and the further implementation of the future concept". In addition to Klingbeil, assistant coach René Lange and goalkeeping coach Nico Hinz were also relieved of their duties.
The ambitious Thuringians, who finished second in the table last season, are in eighth place with 23 points after 17 matchdays, 14 points behind league leaders Greifswalder FC. After a poor start with five games without a win, the team recovered, but were beaten 5-2 by relegation-threatened Chemnitzer FC and FSV Zwickau at the end of the season. Klingbeil defended the national cup title with Jena last season and has already reached the semi-finals this season.
