Struggling Mainz hires Danish coach Bo Henriksen to save Bundesliga status

Mainz’s Tom Krauss, center, takes on Bremen’s Justin Njinmah during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Mainz and Werder Bremen, at the Mewa Arena in Mainz, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. (Torsten Silz/dpa via AP)

MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Mainz hired Bo Henriksen as coach Tuesday as it tries to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.

Henriksen replaces Jan Siewert, who was dismissed Monday after less than three months in charge. Mainz is second-to-last in the 18-team league after a 3-1 loss to Stuttgart on Sunday.

Henriksen joins from Swiss club Zurich and is the second Danish coach at Mainz this season after Bo Svensson resigned in November. Mainz’s head of sport Christian Heidel said the club hopes Henriksen’s “pragmatic, yet courageous and ultimately successful, brand of football” will be a good fit for the relegation fight. Mainz hosts Augsburg on Saturday.

Mainz has been ever-present in the top flight since 2009. In the past, the club has helped launched the careers of coaches including Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel.

Initially as a caretaker coach, Siewert won his first game in charge against Leipzig and was given a two-and-a-half-year contract in December but did not win again. That remains Mainz’s only win of the season in the Bundesliga.

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