Kees van Wonderen's self-imposed inaccessibility strategy
Just Can't Seem to Win: Kees van Wonderen's Struggles at Schalke
By Ben Redelings
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Schalke's coaching seat is burning hot once again. After rumors of Kees van Wonderen putting in his resignation back in December, the Dutchman's days at S04 seem numbered. With the team barely managing to avoid relegation, it's only a matter of time before a new face takes over.
When Markus Weinzierl joked about struggling to find a long-term landlord during his introduction as Schalke's coach in 2016, little did he know his tenure would last longer than most. Fast forward to 2021, and the Royal Blues have been stuck with Kees van Wonderen since October. With disappointing results and a heap of issues in his first few weeks, it seemed like the Dutchman was on a one-way ticket out.
The Resignation That Never Was
Sky sources reported that van Wonderen had already offered his resignation internally in early December. Schalke officials, taken aback by the offer, asked for time to consider their next steps. They quickly identified former coach Friedhelm Funkel as a potential successor, but events took an unexpected turn. Schalke successfully navigated through a few games, and van Wonderen's resignation offer fell by the wayside.
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If the situation had continued to improve in the New Year, it's likely the offer would've been forgotten. But alas, Schalke's fortunes soured once again, and the Dutchman's resignation offer resurfaced in the media a few weeks ago. With Schalke still lacking a clear direction towards improvement, van Wonderen became the focus of criticism. Fans and experts alike believe it's almost impossible for him to remain Schalke's head coach next season.
The Writing on the Wall
Reports from "kicker" state that Schalke is demanding nine points from their coaching team in the next three games against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, SSV Ulm, and Jahn Regensburg. Given Schalke's inconsistency lately, this seems like an almost impossible feat for van Wonderen and his team. With the club already planning for next season, it's clear that van Wonderen's days are numbered. If he offers his resignation again in the coming weeks, Schalke officials won't hesitate to accept.
Ben Redelings is a bestselling author and comedian from the Ruhr area. His current work is "A Goal Would Do the Game Good: The Ultimate Book of Football Truths" ("Small Treasures for Big Laughs!", Bayern 1). He tour
FC Schalke 04Football Bundesliga
Sources:1. Transfermarkt2. Bundesliga3. Whoscored4. Bloomberg5. Sky Sports
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Schalke's coaching dilemma remains unresolved, as Kees van Wonderen's resignation offer from December is yet to be accepted, despite the team's continued struggles.
The resurgence of van Wonderen's resignation offer, combined with Schalke's current inconsistency, has further fueled speculation about his tenure at FC Schalke 04.
Should the Dutchman reiterate his resignation in the coming weeks, Schalke officials may be left with no choice but to accept and begin their search for a new coach in the Football-Bundesliga.
