BREAKING NEWS: Bayer Leverkusen have fired Robin Dutt

German Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen have fired Coach of Indian origin Robin Dutt after an eventful nine months in-charge of the Werksklub, the factory club as the football club belonging to the Bayer AG calls itself.

After yesterday's 0-2 loss against Dutt's former club SC Freiburg the writing was on the wall. General Manager Wolgfang Holzhäuser and Director of Sports Rudi Völler left the stands with 30 minutes of the match to go leaving German national coach Joachim Löw behind to finalise the alternative Plan B until the end of the season.

Around 11.30 CET on Sunday morning Robin Dutt himself announced the end of his short coaching stint in Leverkusen. It was a graceful exit by Dutt, who was critical about his own decisions and media interactions. Thereafter Holzhäuser said that from a human angle it was a difficult decision, but one which had to be taken from the clubs point of view.

Thereafter former Finland and Leverkusen centre-back Sami Hyypiä was named as interim team manager until the end of the season with Leverkusen's Under-19 coach Sascha Lewandowski as the coach on his side with the necessary coaching license.

Over the last few weeks one could see Robin Dutt's demission had been coming as the liaison between Bayer 04 and Robin Dutt didn't seem to work. Dutt joined Leverkusen last summer and in his first press conference said that his aim was to win the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen. A big statement knowing that Leverkusen has never won the German title.

Things started on the wrong note as Leverkusen lost their first Round German Cup (DFB Pokal) match against 2.Bundesliga side Dynamo Dresden 3-4 in extra-time after leading 3-0. In the UEFA Champions League the club did well to reach the pre-quarterfinals with the highlight being a 2-1 win against Chelsea FC, but then came the 1-7 drubbing by FC Barcelona.

In the Bundesliga the club had mixed results with the low point being a defeat against archrivals FC Cologne, while the high was a victory against Bayern Munich. But then in the last few weeks the club lost four matches in a row and their place in next seasons Europa League was suddenly in danger.

In Germany many say Dutt wasn't able to handle the stars in Leverkusen, he was better in Freiburg in bringing-up young talent. Especially the problems surrounding Michael Ballack and the fans taking sides with the former Germany captain also didn't help Dutt's standing within the club and the team.

Robin Dutt will now take time off football. But one does not have to fear about his future, then Robin Dutt maintains a lot of credibility in German football and we will see him back in the Bundesliga soon.

Sami Hyypiä set to retire

At a press conference in Helsinki yesterday 37 year old defender Sami Hyypiä surprisingly announced that he will retire at the end of the season though he has a contract running until summer 2012 with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Sami Hyypiä was born in Porvoo, which is close to the Finnish capital Helsinki. After playing for Pallo-Peokot and Kumu in his youth he joined Finnish first division side MyPa in 1992. After three years he left them for Dutch Eredivisie side Willem II Tilburg where he spend four seasons before joining Liverpool FC.

Hyypiä spend a memorable decade with the Red where he went on to win the 2005 UEFA Champions League besides the 2001 treble - Football League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup plus the 2006 FA Cup. He even captained the Merseyside for a number of years before leaving them for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2009, which was to many a rather surprising move.

Hyypiä has never won the national title with any of his clubs, but was nine times Finland's Footballer of the year - 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010. He has the second highest number of internationals for Finland with 105 behind legendary Jari Litmanen having scored five goals for his country.

"My time at Leverkusen has been fascinating and will finish with a direct qualification for the Champions League," said Hyypiä, who has so far played 52 times for Bayer 04.

"I've spent two years with a superb team and a wonderful club which is giving me the opportunity to start my coaching career."

Hyypiä would return to Finland this summer to do his coaching badges and work as part of the coaching staff at the Finnish national team before returning to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2012 as one of their assistant coaches on a two year contract.