体坛英语新闻：German club Cologne sack coach Solbakken

BERLIN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Struggling Bundesliga side Cologne sacked Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken owing to the hammering 4-0 loss at Mainz this week, the club announced on Thursday.

The club introduced former coach Frank Schaefer for the final four matches to avoid relegation into second league following the suspension of the 44-year-old coach Solbakken who joined the club in 2011.

"Frank Schaefer already showed in the last season that he is able to motivate the team to high performance. Moreover he is instructed to mobilize all resources to earn the necessary points to stay in first division," Cologne manager Claus Horstmann said in an official news release.

Relegation threatened Cologne stages the worst defense of the Bundesliga with 63 conceded goals in 30 official matches therefore they occupy 16th position which is a relegation playoff spot.

Cologne encounters fourth placed Borussia Monchengladbach at the Rhenish derby at Borussia Park on Sunday.