Bayern Munich have sacked manager Carlo Ancelotti after the German champions were beaten 3-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
The Bavarians are three points off the pace in the Bundesliga and are now on the hunt for a new boss.
Ancelotti was summoned for crisis talks back in Germany today after the loss in which Edinson Cavani, Dani Alves and Neymar scored for the French giants.
A statement from Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge read: "The performance of our team since the start of the season did not meet the expectations we put to them. The game in Paris clearly showed that we had to draw consequences.
"I would like to thank Carlo for the cooperation and regret the development she has taken. Carlo is my friend and will remain, but we had to make a professional decision in the sense of FC Bayern. I now expect the team to have a positive development and absolute performance, so we can reach our goals for this season. "
Rummenigge had called for "consequences" following the Bundeliga giants' worst group stage defeat in the Champions League for 21 years.
Speaking at the club's traditional post-match banquet at the team hotel, he said: "What we saw today was not FC Bayern, I think we can all agree that.”
Willy Sagnol will be in charge for the weekend's match against Hertha Berlin while former Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel is among the favourites to take over permanently, along with Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann.
Ancelotti, who has a contract till June 2019, has been linked with a return to his former club Milan.
The Italian was already under increasing pressure with the Bavarian giants only third in the Bundesliga after a sluggish start. They drew 2-2 at home to Wolfsburg last Friday after leading 2-0.
But Ancelotti, who was sacked by Chelsea in 2011, made six changes for the trip to the Parc des Princes and saw his side destroyed 3-0.
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Ancelotti's relaxed management style has come in for criticism in the German press obsessed by events at FC Hollywood.
He succeeded Pep Guardiola last year with the task of overseeing a transiton from the treble winning team of 2013 and bring through the next generation like Kingsley Coman and James Rodriguez.
Franck Ribery, 34, and Arjen Robben, 33, were on the bench in Paris.
Asked if the team supports Ancelotti, the Dutchman said: “I will not answer that question. It was a painful defeat.”
By contrast, Paris Saint-Germain announced themselves as serious Champions League contenders with the win. The French side lost 6-1 to Barcelona last season but have since recruited Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Thiago Silva said: “It was a huge win against a big team and also a great coach (Carlo Ancelotti). I believe that PSG has shown its true face. I think we deserved this win. The future looks good.”