VfL Bochum is in a deep crisis – the relegated team is already stuck in the table cellar again, this time in the 2nd league. This is also due to the many changes at the management level.
It is almost admirable to the loyalty and passion with the supporters of the VfL Bochum continue to support your club. 26,000 people also filled the sold -out ranks against Fortuna Düsseldorf (0: 1). But this support doesn’t help either. The traditional club from the Ruhr area has long been in almost free fall.
“They have always been on the lid for two years. It is also difficult for fans,” said VfL defense chief Kevin Vogt after the new bankruptcy against Düsseldorf. The sixth defeat in the seventh game of this season, five of them in a row. The team is currently not competitive in the 2nd league. It can hardly be much more devastating to a relegation from a Bundesliga relegation, the crisis hardly more overwhelmed.
No wonder that there was resentment and some of the disappointed visitors in the Bochum stadium wanted to get rid of their frustration loudly. “They can say what they want. We are 17. The fact that they don’t go to the throat from us demands great respect. I can understand everything,” said Bochum’s attacker Gerrit Holtmann. “For us it is a relegation battle again, just a league deeper. Point, end, end.”
Intensive Personnel
The Bochumers threaten to be passed through directly into the 3rd league. Two years ago, with a “miracle” in the Bundesliga relegation against the Fortuna, they just reached the last second (33 points). In the past season, they have then relegated as the bottom of the table (25 points). The reasons for this dramatic crash are likely to be in the club, especially in the staff.
After long-term coach Thomas Reis, who was employed by VfL for over three years (until September 2022), there were intensive personnel reductions in Bochum who are looking for their own.
Three trainers (Thomas Letsch, Peter Zeidler, Dieter Hecking), four interim coaches (Heiko Butscher, Markus Feldhoff, Murat Ural, David Siebers) and three sport-Responsible (Patrick Fabian, Marc Lettau, Dirk Duffner) Later, once again it is uncertain what leadership staff will go on.
A sustainable game idea, let alone a successful overall concept, should be almost impossible to implement with such a chaotic personnel policy. Too many ideas, too many concepts brought more misunderstandings than concrete solutions.
Little hope
Managing Director Ilja Kaenzig, who has been responsible for finance and most recently as a strategy boss at VfL since 2018, was wrong with his personnel decision to bring Dirk Dufner as a sports manager next to him. The club released the 57-year-old from its function after only five months. And as you know, Hecking also had to go at the same time. This misjudgment not only cost a functioning squad and points, but also a lot of money.
“In the meantime, every club is planning to change coaches. There is no reason to worry, but of course we cannot spend endless money,” said Kenzig on the day of the club’s two senior employees in mid -September.
“Our squad performed under its possibilities. But there is no reason to worry. If the success should return, which we not only hope, but also claim, a lot will put into perspective.” Since then there have been two more bankruptcies – and almost no reason to hope.
Some options
How will the Bochumers continue? It is possible, but rather unlikely whether interim coach Siebers can continue after the two bankruptcies. Even if the actual VfL junior coach Siebers would be the most cost-effective solution. Names of experienced trainers such as Markus Beginner or Robert Klauss are currently circulating.
And in the manager position, Kauiserslautern’s sports director Thomas Hengen is more of a fan request, rather Christian Flüthmann from Rot-Weiss Essen, ex-Bochum Claus Costa from Hamburger SV and Carsten Rothenbach from FC St. Pauli should be more realistic options. But Oliver Ruhnert, former manager of Union Berlin and ex-boss of the club’s smithy at FC Schalke 04, would also be a conceivable option.
Complete perplexity
The fact is: VfL players urgently need a solid, more sustainable structure in which they can develop. Next Saturday (1 p.m.) at the away game at the 1st FC Kaiserslautern, Siebers is probably still on the bench that the new dignity will only come to the international break. The sporting leadership, which takes over afterwards, has to do basic work and first build the completely lost self -confidence.
“We are VfL and the VfL does not give up. We have to continue and cannot give up,” said defense chief Vogt. An almost desperate statement, a bleak perseverance slogan that could not express the current perplexity in the Bochum more clearly.
