Hannover 96 dismisses coach Christian Titz after just one win in five second division games

The 1:2 against 1. FC Nürnberg was one defeat too many: Second division soccer team Hannover 96 has separated from its coach Christian Titz, the club announced. The promotion candidate had only won one of the first five games of the second division season. It is the first coach dismissal of the current season in the Second Bundesliga.

First, U23 coach Lars Barlemann will prepare the team for the home game against VfL Bochum on Sunday. Hanover wants to present a Titz successor as soon as possible. According to several media outlets, the top favorite is former Bayern professional and Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner. According to the “Bild” newspaper, Hanover and Wagner are currently in negotiations.

»It was our common goal to build on the previous season - combined with the legitimate hope that we can carry some momentum into the new season. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen in the desired form,” said sports director Jonas Boldt. "This decision now gives us the opportunity to readjust ourselves again - with the clear goal that we all at Hannover 96 run in the same direction with full energy."

Since relegation to the Bundesliga in 2019, the 96ers have been working at great financial expense on their longed-for return to the first division. The 55-year-old Titz was signed by 1. FC Magdeburg in 2025 and built a completely new team in his first season in Hanover. The first thing that spoke for Titz was his team's attractive football and the statistically best second division season in Lower Saxony. Nevertheless, the team squandered promotion, which was within reach, on the last three match days.