Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Former German Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg on Monday fired their Dutch head coach Andries Jonker and replace him with Martin Schmidt of Switzerland after what the club termed an unacceptable start to their Bundesliga campaign with four points from four matches.
“Decisive for us in taking this step at this point in time was not just the impression made upon us during the game against Stuttgart, but rather based upon the perception of stagnated development amongst the team, which was to a great extent newly formed during the summer. We expressly wish to thank Andries Jonker and his coaching staff, for rescuing VfL’s position in the top-flight at the last minute at the end of last season,” stated Wolfgang Hotze, spokesman for the board of management. Manager Dr. Tim Schumacher explained: “The decision to make a change of head-coach at this early stage of the season wasn’t easy for any of us. However, during our internal consultations, we ultimately came to the conclusion that we wish to approach the task with a newly formed coaching-team.”
Along with Andries Jonker, assistant coaches Uwe Speidel and Fredrik Ljungberg, as well as match-analyst Jan van Loon, have been relieved of their duties.
A little later in the day, Martin Schmidt was announced and presented as the new head coach of VfL Wolfsburg. The 50-year-old Swiss coach signed a contract on Monday valid until summer 2019 and took charge of the Wolves final pre-match training session on Monday evening ahead of the up-coming Bundesliga home clash with SV Werder Bremen (Tuesday, 20:30h CET). The new coaching-team will include assistant-coach Stefan Sartori, goalkeeper trainer Andreas Hilfiker, endurance trainer Stephan Kerth and rehabilitation specialist Michele Putaro.
“We are delighted to have won over Martin Schmidt for VfL Wolfsburg in such a short space of time. He’s the right man for the task that lies ahead of us,” stated VfL manager Dr. Tim Schumacher. Sporting Director Rebbe added, “I’d like to thank Martin Schmidt for agreeing to take over at such short notice. We are convinced that, with his experience and strengths, he will fit right in at VfL.”
Martin Schmidt is eager to take on the new challenge. “I had too and couldn’t take too long to accept the head-coach job at VfL. Only a few hours passed between our initial contact and signing the contract. It’s no great secret that VfL approached me a few months ago, but I turned down the offer then out of respect and loyalty to Mainz 05. I am really looking forward to this challenge, although we don’t have much time as we have two important games on the schedule,” explained Schmidt.
The Swiss coach spent seven years with 1.FSV Mainz 05. In 2010, Schmidt took charge of the Rheinhessen club’s Under-23 side and won promotion to the 3. Liga just a year later. Six months further on, Martin Schmidt was made head-coach of the Bundesliga team, where he held the reins until May of this year. In 2015/2016, Schmidt guided Mainz to the UEFA Europa League. The 50-year-old was previously active as a player and coach in Switzerland at FC Raron, as well as a player with FC Thun.
