Gelsenkirchen (dpa) – Tricky search, surprising choice – Frank Kramer should make FC Schalke 04 a fixture in the Bundesliga again.
After several weeks of speculation as to who could succeed interim coach Mike Büskens, the promoted team is about to announce the key personnel.
Initially, several media reported unanimously that Kramer, who was later released from Arminia Bielefeld on April 20, should be officially presented on Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, Schalke also invited to a press conference where a new coach was presented. However, they did not name Frank Kramer.
Preference for running-intensive games
Reports about alleged and unsuccessful negotiations with Thomas Letsch (Arnheim), former Bundesliga professional Vincent Kompany (Anderlecht) and the new Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz had left the fans guessing. Conjectures that sports director Peter Knäbel and sports director Rouven Schröder could even fall back on the promotion hero Büskens as a constant this time should now finally prove to be unfounded.
The time that Schalke’s sports director Schröder and Kramer spent together at Greuther Fürth from 2013 to 2014 may have been the deciding factor for the 50-year-old. Another plus for the former coach of various German U-national teams and the clubs from Fürth, Hoffenheim, Düsseldorf and Bielefeld could have been his preference for running-intensive games that go well with Schalke’s image as a hard-working club.