Doll resigns as Borussia Dortmund coach

DORTMUND, Germany -- Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Doll has resigned following their worst league finish in 20 years, finishing 13th, and despite taking the club to the German Cup final.

The 41-year-old had come in for heavy criticism during the second-half of the season as Dortmund won only four matches and ended up with the worst defensive record in the Bundesliga -- conceding 62 goals.

"After assessing the results this season, Thomas Doll offered his resignation to the board," read a statement from the six-times German champions and 1997 Champions League winners.

"Thanks to his work, Dortmund retained their place in the Bundesliga and will compete in the UEFA Cup next season (they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the final but Bayern qualified for the Champions League by winning the domestic title)," said the club's director-general Hans-Joachim Watzke.

The former German international midfielder, who was sacked by Hamburg in February 2007, had been in the job since March last year guiding them to ninth place in the Bundesliga.

Favorite to replace him is Jurgen Klopp, who resigned from the Mainz hotseat on Sunday after they narrowly failed to gain promotion to the Bundesliga.