Relegated Arminia Bielefeld is trying to restart in the 2nd Bundesliga. New team, new coach: The Italian Uli Forte should set things right for East Westphalia.
The Bielefeld team want to play active and offensive football in the upcoming second division season. Coach Uli Forte has to form the newly assembled team first – and then maybe aim for promotion again.
That’s how last season went
“We didn’t have a stable structure,” said Samir Arabi just before the end of last season. The Arminia sports director was right: In the end it wasn’t enough for East Westphalia, also because they had scored a measly 27 goals – and thus the fewest of all Bundesliga teams. The budget of around 50 million euros was a decent basis for the Bielefeld company, but rather modest compared to the competition.
Ex-coach Frank Kramer had to leave in April 2022 after a good year in office after he had temporarily stabilized Bielefeld. However, seven games without a win and a 0-3 draw against Bayern (17 April) cost him his job in the final sprint. Goalkeeper coach and Ortega mentor Marco Kostmann jumped in at short notice until the end of the season – but could not save Arminia anymore.
Who is coming, who is going?
So far, sports director Arabi has committed six “real” additions – who are not coming back from a loan. However, Arabi did not spend much money. Three free transfer players (Oliver Hüsing/Heidenheim, Marc Rzatkowski/Schalke, and Silvan Sidler/Lucerne) and one loan (Frederik Jäkel/Leipzig) are included.
Transfers were only due for Andres Andrade (purchase option) and Benjamin Kanuric (Rapid Wien). However, the amount was not disclosed. And: Club icon Fabian Klos is still a season away as captain – after his serious facial injury in the previous season, he is almost like another newcomer.
Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who was drawn to Manchester City, stands out in terms of departures. The previous substitute keeper Stefanos Kapino (28) should close the big gap left by Ortega. However, Kapino was only used once last season, in the 2-0 win in Leipzig.
Particularly annoying for Arminia: In addition to Ortega, three other important regulars left the club free of charge: Cedric Brunner (Schalke 04), Joakim Nilsson (St. Lois City), Amos Pieper (Werder Bremen). Bielefeld only received a transfer fee of five million euros for one top performer, Patrick Wimmer (Wolfsburg). In addition, the contracts of Alessandro Schöpf and Gonzalo Castro were not renewed.
The trainer
A new name in German professional football – Uli Forte, is 48 years old and has spent his footballing life in Switzerland. The Italian comes from second division club Yverdon Sport FC to Bielefeld, but has also coached FC Basel and Young Boys Bern and won the national cup with FC Zurich and Grashoppers Zurich. Raised with the Grashoppers though in May 2019 also once off.
“It has always been a dream of mine to be able to work in German football,” says Uli Forte. His motto: “Hard but warm.” Forte announces a lot of work for the professionals – but always an open door. “I’ve actually always lived that way,” says the new Arminia coach. Sports director Sami Arabi had had Forte in his sights for a long time. His style of play: Acting from a solid defence, balancing strong pressing and clever shifting in order to get in front of the opposing goal with short passes after winning the ball. He needs a unit on the pitch for that.
expectations for the season
“It’s difficult to aim for a goal at this early stage. But as we’re relegated, we have to accept the new league first,” says Forte. The new coach wants to get stability in the team as quickly as possible and score points quickly through the team. Doing better than bigger names in league 2 who didn’t just struggle starting in league 2. Financially, managing director Sami Arabi places his team between eighth and twelfth place. If Forte’s emotional leadership takes effect and the trainer manages to form a conspired unit, there may be even more in it.
