New Boss for Schalke 04: Following Kees van Wonderen, The Hunt is On for the 36th Coach in 25 Years
The Number of Trainers Employed by Schalke 04 Throughout the Current Era
Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email Print Copy Link
With Kees van Wonderen stepping down, Schalke 04 isSearching for a New Coach - Again
It's time for a fresh face at Schalke, with Kees van Wonderen's departure no longer a surprise. The club finds itself in need of a new coach once more. The name of Markus Anfang keeps popping up in the rumor mill as the next possible addition to the club. The people of Gelsenkirchen are eager for a lasting solution.
After 25 years, Schalke 04 has already worn out a staggering number of 35 coaches, including interim and repeats. The team has been dubbed a "coach-eating monster" for its insatiable hunger for coaches. Van Wonderen is the latest victim of this turnover. He announced his departure from the club at the end of the season, surprising the club leadership.
Football The Club Speaks Out FC Schalke announces coach exit after end of the season
The club initially reacted offended to Van Wonderen's decision, but since then have been consistently accepting of the change. For Schalke, it was no longer a difficult choice. Despite the club's statement that they still see themselves as UEFA cup contenders, Van Wonderen's tenure at Schalke was marked by instability from the beginning. After a series of unsuccessful games, rumors of a quick departure circulated. The fear of relegation to the third league was too great, causing panic among the club and fans. Van Wonderen stayed and stabilized the team, but was unable to take the club to the next level.
The tipping point for Van Wonderen may have been the surprising 2:2 draw against Hamburg SV. His time at Schalke had been trying since the beginning, and the sudden draw may have been the final straw. The club will continue for another four games before reaching a peaceful conclusion with Van Wonderen.
The club's leadership has outlined the profile of the new coach: "We are looking for a coach with a recognizable style that aligns with the philosophy of Schalke 04. Essentially, we want to play with confidence and purpose, work hard when we don't have the ball, and play emotionately." No talks have taken place with potential candidates yet, but Markus Anfang's name keeps surfacing as a favorite. Anfang was fired by 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Tuesday evening, making him a potential contender for the position.
The Excessive Coaching Turnover
Schalke 04's coaching history is filled with a diverse array of personalities and coaching styles, in a seemingly endless quest for stability.
In 1997, the legendary Huub Stevens started a great era for Schalke and ended it for the first time in 2002. He returned to Schalke three more times after that. During the 2011/12 season, Stevens achieved the best Bundesliga start in the club's history, but was ultimate fired after a series of losses and a drop to seventh place. Mike Büskens led the team to promotion in the following season and Frank Kramer was quick to follow, but the team struggled under his leadership.
The year 2020 was particularly tough for Schalke. David Wagner was in charge, but the team experienced a historic collapse, going 18 games without a win in a row. The team lost 0:8 to Bayern Munich at the start of the 2020/21 season, followed by a 1:3 against Werder Bremen. The club released Wagner shortly after. Wagner was the fourth coach to be fired after the second matchday, joining a select group that includes Rinus Michels, Morten Olsen, and Dieter Hecking. Manuel Baum took over briefly, followed by a short stint from Christian Gross, who also failed to turn things around.
Football "Like a new ketchup bottle" As Schalke continued to struggle, shining but long-forgotten names resurfaced in the team's history. Fred Rutten and Roberto Di Matteo were brought in to try and turn things around, but the team continued to decline. In the escalating crisis on Schalke, Kevin-Prince Boateng was released. Two matchdays later, Di Matteo was also fired.
Similarly disastrous was the time of Frank Kramer. Kramer was brought in to stabilize the team in the summer of 2022 after the team's successful final sprint in the 2. Bundesliga under Büskens. Yet, the team quickly found themselves floundering under Kramer's leadership. After twelve matchdays, the club pulled the emergency brake. Schalke was clearly last, having won only two games. Thomas Reis took over as head coach, but could not save the team from relegation. Kees van Wonderen is now ending the next coaching cycle, leaving the club to search for their 36th coach to help turn things around.
Sources: ntv.de, tno/lst
- FC Schalke 04
- Football
- 2. Bundesliga
- Schalke's search for a new coach in the second league continues, following the departure of Kees van Wonderen.
- Despite the surprising exit of Van Wonderen, Schalke fans are hungry for a lasting solution, hoping for a change that could propel the team to UEFA cup contention.
- Names like Markus Anfang have been mentioned as potential contenders for the 36th coach position in Schalke's 25-year history, with football fans keeping a close eye on the club's appointments at 830.
- Schalke's coaching turnover has earned them the nickname of a "coach-eating monster," with the club's history being filled with diverse personalities and coaching styles, and a seemingly endless quest for stability in football.
