Mainz has dismissed coach Bo Henriksen, whose departure comes despite his earlier achievement of securing a European competition spot for the club this season, as the team struggles at the bottom of the Bundesliga.
Mainz announced Wednesday that Henriksen left by mutual agreement. The club, currently 18th and last in the German top flight, has appointed Benjamin Hoffmann, from its U23 team, as interim coach.
Henriksen, 50, took charge in February 2024 and successfully steered the club away from relegation in the previous 2023/24 season.
In the current 2024/25 season, he had notably guided Mainz to a sixth-place position at an earlier stage, securing qualification for the Conference League playoffs and marking the club’s return to European competition after nine years.
This domestic success has since evaporated, with Mainz recording only one win in 12 Bundesliga matches this season. They have accumulated just six points.
The team is now three points behind 15th-place Wolfsburg, which holds the last safe spot in the league. They are also two points adrift of 17th-place Heidenheim, currently in a relegation playoff position.
Mainz has been without a victory in the German League for eight consecutive games, a winless streak extending over two months.
In stark contrast to their domestic performance, Mainz is performing strongly in the Conference League. They currently sit fifth in their group stage with nine points after four of six rounds.
This position puts them in a direct qualification spot for the Round of 16.
Henriksen expressed gratitude to the club, stating, “Mainz is a fantastic club, with wonderful people and fans. We achieved so much together and I am very grateful for all the experiences and for the time we shared.”
He acknowledged the team’s recent struggles: “Unfortunately, we were unable to play the same successful football this season, although we fought until the end. Football is like that sometimes.”
Hoffmann, 46, will now lead the senior squad provisionally.
Mainz was also eliminated from the German Cup earlier in the season, suffering a 2-0 defeat to holders Stuttgart in the second round.