Matarazzo's final match in the dugout was a 0-0 draw with Augsburg. - © Daniel Kopatsch - Getty

bundesliga

Pellegrino Matarazzo and Hoffenheim part ways

11.11.2024

Pellegrino Matarazzo has left his role as Hoffenheim head coach after almost two years in the dugout.

The American coach took over in February 2023 and guided Hoffenheim to safety with 12th-place finish before guiding the Sinsheim club up to seventh in his first full season, booking a spot in the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League.

However, the new campaign has brought just nine points in 10 Bundesliga games to leave them in 15th, while in Europe, Hoffenheim are currently 19th in the league phase with two draws, a win and a defeat. Matarazzo has also taken the side to the last 16 of the DFB Cup.

In a club statement, Hoffenheim managing director Andreas Schicker said: "This decision wasn’t easy for us, but a number of factors have led to ending our work with Rino as head coach. We have too few points on the board, while the lack of consistency in performances this season has also contributed to our decision. We’d like to thank Rino and Michael [assistant coach Kammermeyer] for their commitment to Hoffenheim and wish them all the best.”

Watch: A behind the scenes look at training under Pellegrino Matarazzo at Hoffenheim

Matarazzo commented: "Unfortunately, the time has come to go our separate ways. I’ll always look back on a time full of lessons, which was shaped by different challenges and great moments of success. I’m proud to have worked with this team and the coaching staff, who were ready to run through fire for each other.”

Before his stint with Hoffenheim, Matarazzo coached VfB Stuttgart in his first role as a head coach from 2019 to 2022 and achieved Bundesliga promotion with Die Schwaben in 2020.

Born in New Jersey, the 46-year-old has a long relationship with Germany where he’s lived since moving over to play for Eintracht Bad Kreuznach in 2000.

Post retirement Matarazzo's relationship began with Hoffenheim when he coached their U17s before stepping up as Julian Nagelsmann’s assistant in January 2018 and helping the side to a third-place Bundesliga finish.

Frank Fröhling and Benjamin Hübner have been placed in charge of overseeing training during the international break as the club seeks to appoint a successor. Hoffenheim's next fixture is at home to RB Leipzig on 23 November.