Schalke's sports director Jochen Schneider looks on during a press conference at the Veltins-Arena, in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on July 1, 2020. - The future of cash-strapped Bundesliga club Schalke 04 is uncertain after their billionaire backer and chairman Clemens Toennies resigned on June 30, 2020 following fan protests over his management of the club. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP)
Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 have appointed Dimitrios Grammozis as head coach.
Grammozis’ contract with the Gelsenkirchen club is expected to see him remain at the Veltins Arena until 30th June 2022. The man who made 143 Bundesliga appearances as a player will meet his new team for the first time on Wednesday, March 3.
It has also been announced that Sven Piepenbrock will join the coaching team as an assistant to Grammozis alongside Mike Büskens.
“We are convinced that we have found the right man for the remaining third of the season in Dimitrios Grammozis,” said Peter Knäbel, interim director of sport. “We are all aware of the situation, but regardless of that, we still have eleven games of the season to go and we want to get the best we can out of those. For us, Dimitrios is the right choice, both with regard to the task and to his personality.”
Grammozis is looking forward to the challenge and took the time to voice his sentiments: “I’m really keen to take this on. I will use the short time between now and my first game in charge to try and get as good an impression as possible of the team along with my coaching colleagues – and obviously we want to start with a win against Mainz.”
The 42-year-old played for Hamburger SV, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and 1. FC Köln among others as a professional. He also played in Greece and Cyprus. His career as a coach started at VfL Bochum, where he worked as U19 and U23 head coach and as first-team assistant, before moving to second-tier SV Darmstadt 98 for 18 months.
In two other management decisions, Onur Cinel and Naldo will leave the first-team coaching team.
“Both will dedicate their efforts to the Knappenschmiede (Schalke academy). Onur has learnt a lot during his time with the first team – experiences he can now utilise in his work with the youngsters. One thing is clear: The Knappenschmiede will play a central role in our plans for the coming months and years,” said Knäbel.
As announced by the club at the time of his announcement, Naldo will be obtaining his coaching qualifications.
A work-shadowing plan has been drafted in order to make this possible as the German-Brazilian prepares for his coaching career. “The Knappenschmiede is not just there to harvest talented players, but also coaches. Naldo will learn his trade by doing,” said Knäbel.
Story by Sammy Wejinya
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