Champions League competitors Schalke 04 have sacked coach Huub Stevens after a poor domestic run, culminating in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Freiburg which saw them drop to seventh in the Bundesliga, the club said on Sunday. Stevens was in his second stint at Schalke after taking over in September 2011 but with four defeats and no victories in their last six league games, he paid the price by losing his job at the start of the winter break. Stevens will be succeeded by youth team coach Jens Keller, who will lead the training on Monday. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)