Schalke is set to welcome Coach Muslic on board today.
Schalke 04 Seeks Stability with Miron Muslic as New Head Coach
Gelsenkirchen – Miron Muslic is reportedly on the brink of becoming the new head coach of FC Schalke 04, a Bundesliga 2 club, with the 42-year-old poised to sign his contract today, according to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg. He arrives at the Ruhr club from Plymouth Argyle, a team relegated from England's League Two. Muslic is expected to sign a contract until 2027, as per Sky and the 'WAZ'.
An Unfamiliar Face in Germany
Muslic is relatively unknown in Germany, having been born in 1982 in present-day Bosnia-Herzegovina. He spent his childhood in Austria, where he began his playing and coaching career. His greatest accomplishment thus far was with Cercle Brugge, a Belgian side he led into the UEFA Conference League last summer.
A Tough Task Awaits in Gelsenkirchen
Muslic now faces the challenge of stabilizing Schalke and navigating the team back to the Bundesliga in the medium term. The historically successful club started the previous season under Karel Geraerts' guidance, who was replaced by Kees van Wonderen. Despite the changes, Schalke struggled, spending most of the season in the relegation battle. Interim coach Jakob Fimpel managed to secure a 14th-place finish for the season.
High Coach Turnover at Schalke
After finishing as runners-up in 2018, Schalke parted ways with Domenico Tedesco in the spring of 2019. Since then, 12 different coaches have held the reins, with three of them – Huub Stevens, Matthias Kreutzer, and Fimpel – serving as interim coaches twice each. The last permanent coach to serve more than two years was Mirko Slomka, who coached the team from January 2006 to April 2008. Will Muslic bring the desired continuity?
Plymouth Argyle’s Mixed Feelings
Unrest has arisen even before the move takes official form. Plymouth Argyle released a statement expressing their displeasure over Muslic’s talks with a second-tier Bundesliga club. “We are frustrated by this decision,” the statement read. Muslic started his role with the English club in January, but he is now leaving Plymouth after just four months despite signing a long-term commitment.
Muslic's appointment as the new head coach of Schalke 04, a sports club in Gelsenkirnen, presents an opportunity for him to demonstrate his skills in football sports-analysis as he works towards stabilizing the team and guiding them back to the Bundesliga. The departure of Muslic, who had signed a long-term commitment with Plymouth Argyle, has left his former English club with mixed feelings about his abrupt departure from League Two.
