The club announced Heynckes' departure with immediate effect Wednesday, although president Rolf Koenigs had only good things to say about the former Monchengladbach player who was on his second spell at the club.

"We are really sorry Jupp has decided to take this decision. We've always had a good working relationship and he will always be part of this club," said Koenigs after the side's 0-0 league draw with Nuremberg.

The statistics don't lie, however. With Heynckes at the helm Monchengladbach are now in the relegation zone having won their last match on October 14, when they beat Wolfsburg 3-1.

He will be replaced by his assistant, Jos Luhukay, for the team's next league game against Bielefeld.

As a feared centre-forward Heynckes played in the Monchengladbach side which dominated German football and starred in Europe in the 1970s, winning four league titles, a German Cup and the UEFA Cup, in 1975.

Heynckes also played 39 times for Germany, scoring 14 goals and helping his country win the European Championships in 1972 and the World Cup in 1974, although he did not play in the final against the Netherlands.