Halftime In Germany

The annual Bundsliga winter break is upon us (I can sense there's a little jealousy coming from EPL coaches), so let's take a look and see what's been left under the Christmas tree.

• Werder Bremen will celebrate holidays in style as "Autumn Champions" after beating VfL Wolfsburg Sunday. They top the table on goal-difference over Schalke 04, 25 goals to 12. Bremen have scored an amazing 44 goals in seventeen matches. Things are still tight at the top after the first two spots with Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart both within five points. I imagine that Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn owes somebody some money right now. We already know what the guys over at The Offside think of him. And won't we miss him when he's gone? [Townsville Bulletin, The Offside, CNN]
• BV Borussia Dortmund have parted company with their Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk in the wake of Sunday's 2-1 home defeat against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Sunday's loss left Dortmund ninth and two places below their finishes in Van Marwijk's previous seasons, and fans made their displeasure known. Ottmar Hitzfeld was the first choice to replace him but declined the offer, wishing to stay in his position as a television analyst. Former Bremen, Bayern and Leverkusen midfielder Jurgen Rober was named as the new coach yesterday. [Reuters]
• Hamburger SV have announced that Thomas Doll will remain their coach despite leading them to just one victory in 17 Bundesliga games this season. "We are convinced we will be able to avoid relegation with the current staff," said chairman Bernd Hoffmann. Doll, whose side lie 17th place with 13 points heading into the winter break, added: "I am grateful for the trust put in me by the board." [Reuters]
• Bayern midfielder Julio dos Santos, just days after joining VfL Wolfsburg on loan until the end of the season, broke his fibula and tore ligaments in his right leg. He'll be out for at least ten weeks. The German champions signed dos Santos for $2.6M from Paraguay's Club Cerro Porteno a year ago. The Paraguayan international is seen as a possible long-term replacement for Michael Ballack. So far he has had few chances in the first team, making just five appearances in the Bundesliga and two in the Champions League. His contract at Bayern runs until the summer of 2009. [Bayern Munich official site]
• Two high profile Americans get a chance to lick their wounds. Borussia Monchengladbach copy cats Hamburg and backs their man. [Yanks Abroad, Sporting Life]
• Bayern held it's annual Christmas party over the weekend. Let's hope that our favorite drunk driver gave the keys to someone else that night. [Bayern Munich official site]

-ac