BUNDESLIGA

Troubled Schalke turn to Chistian Gross as manager

Struggling Schalke unveiled veteran Swiss coach Christian Gross as their new manager on Sunday as the Bundesliga’s bottom side try to end a miserable run of league games without a win.

“I am really happy to be able to welcome Christian Gross as our new head coach,” sporting director Jochen Schneider wrote on the club Twitter account. 

“We are in a tough situation. Our aim is to survive. I am sure that Christian Gross is the right man to help us be successful in that goal.”

The 66-year-old Gross becomes the fourth manager since late September at a club whose run of Bundesliga games without a win has stretched to 29.

David Wagner was fired after the club opened the season with an 8-0 loss to Bayern Munich and a home defeat to Werder Bremen.

Manuel Baum was in turn axed on December 18 after drawing four and losing six in the Bundesliga. 

Huub Stevens took over as caretaker and oversaw another Bundesliga loss and a cup win at fourth-tier Ulm.

Gross spent nine months at Tottenham Hotspur in 1997-8, taking over with the club in the bottom three and leading them to 14th.

He enjoyed his greatest success in a 10-year stint at Basel where he won four Swiss league titles. He also won trophies with Grasshoppers in Switzerland, Al-Ahly in Saudi Arabia and Zamalek in Egypt.

In a previous 10-month spell in Germany, he led Stuttgart to sixth place and Europa League qualification.

This is his first appointment at a European club since 2012.

rg/pb/td

© Agence France-Presse

Tom Kirkwood

Recent Posts

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

17 hours ago

Mainz 05 Inspires Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 visited Totalsport Safe-Hub in Alexandra for…

6 days ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

1 week ago

Tsitsikamma and Trail Running – setting the gold standard for inclusive conservation

Victor Mokoena and his team in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park…

2 weeks ago

Xaba and Tola re-write the record books at Sanlam’s Cape Town Marathon

Rising Ethiopian marathon star, Abdisa Tola, and South Africa’s running great, Glenrose ‘Supercharger’ Xaba, created…

3 weeks ago

Collin and Tayla shine on Day One of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon weekend

Zimbabwean Collin Kanyimo and British athlete Catherine Williamson took the trail honours in the 44km…

3 weeks ago