Stevens relieved of Schalke role

Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Schalke has fired manager Huub Stevens after the team's 3-1 defeat to Freiburg on Saturday.

Despite guiding Schalke into the knockout round in the Champions League this season, Stevens has seen his side struggle in the Bundesliga recently, with the club earning only two points from its last six league games.

Saturday's loss dropped Schalke out of the top six heading into the Bundesliga's winter break, and Stevens will be replaced by youth team coach Jens Keller until the end of the season, with Keller taking charge of Schalke's DFB Pokal match with Mainz on Tuesday.