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Borussia Mönchengladbach fired head coach Eugen Polanski on September 13, 2026, one day after a 5-0 demolition at the hands of SC Freiburg. Three games into the season, zero points collected, and a goal difference that reads -12. The math was ugly. The decision was inevitable.
This marks the first coaching change of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season. It also marks the second consecutive year that Gladbach pulled the trigger after Matchday 3.
Groundhog Day at Borussia-Park
Polanski’s departure is almost a carbon copy of what happened to his predecessor. Gerardo Seoane was shown the door at exactly this point last season, three games in, results trending the wrong direction. Polanski was promoted from assistant to interim coach, then handed a permanent contract through 2028 in November 2025.
During his full tenure, Polanski oversaw 37 competitive matches. The record: 11 wins, 10 draws, 16 losses. That works out to 1.16 points per game.
For context, Seoane averaged 1.22 points per game during his time at Gladbach. Polanski did manage to steer the side to a 12th-place finish in 2025/26, which kept them in the top flight.
Assistant coach Tobias Trulsen also departed alongside Polanski. Jan-Moritz Lichte has stepped in as interim head coach while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
A club in freefall
Gladbach’s management pointed to performance issues as the primary reason for the change. Reports from the club’s pre-season had actually been cautiously optimistic, with indications of strong preparation and potential.
Several names have surfaced as potential permanent successors. Ole Werner, Horst Steffen, and Alexander Blessin are reportedly in the conversation.
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