DORTMUND, Germany — Borussia Dortmund has terminated the contract of technical director Sven Mislintat after a brief tenure of nine months, as the club aims to reform its struggling campaign that has seen last season’s Champions League finalists drop to 11th place in the Bundesliga.

Mislintat, known for his previous roles at Arsenal and Ajax, was brought on board in May with the responsibility of overseeing the club’s squad planning. The team has faced considerable difficulties this season, leading to the dismissal of head coach Nuri Sahin last month, who was succeeded by Niko Kovac.

A short statement from Dortmund confirmed that Mislintat was informed about his dismissal on Thursday in a personal meeting with Lars Ricken, the club’s managing director for sport, stating that his termination was effective immediately.

Mislintat had a reputation for sourcing young talent when he managed Dortmund’s scouting department from 2006 to 2017, during which time the club secured players like Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembélé for future profit.

His departure arrives during a period of reported discord within the management ranks at Dortmund, particularly concerning the imminent exit of long-standing CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, scheduled for later this year.

This weekend, Dortmund will face Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, marking Kovac’s first match as head coach.