Weinzierl, Kaltenbach, Finke and Augenthaler as rescuers
For the last time it worked at FC Augsburg. After matchday 31 of the 2020/21 season, Markus Weinzierl replaced Heiko Herrlich. He only got three out of nine possible points, but they were crucial for staying up in the league. We are talking about a 2-0 win in a direct basement duel against Werder Bremen.
In the 2019/20 season, Matthias Kaltenbach took over the coaching job at 1899 Hoffenheim from Alfred Schreuder for the last four matchdays. TSG scored nine of the twelve possible points, climbed from seventh to sixth place and thus qualified directly for the Europa League.
In Cologne in 2010/11 it was again about staying up. Three games before the end, FC, which had slipped dangerously close to 16th place, pulled the ripcord, parted ways with Frank Schaefer and made Volker Finke the new coach. He won the remaining three games and in the end, in tenth place, confidently bagged the league.
In 2002/03 Bayer Leverkusen was in a direct relegation zone after matchday 32 – with Thomas Hörster. Under Klaus Augenthaler, who had just been sacked in Nuremberg, the “Werkself” won the last two games and was able to avert relegation from the Bundesliga in 15th place.
Eight coach changes fizzled out
Eight times, however, a late change of coach fizzled out. What worked in Augsburg last season didn’t work in Bremen. Thomas Schaaf replaced Florian Kohfeldt there after matchday 33. In the last round there was a 2:4 against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Werder slipped from 16th to 17th place.
Schaaf is in good company there. Nico Willig failed in Stuttgart in 2018/19, Roger Prinzen in Nuremberg in 2013/14, Frank Schaefer in Cologne in 2011/12, Darius Wosz in Bochum in 2009/10 and Wolfgang Wolf in Nuremberg in 2002/03. In 2009/10, Hamburger SV sacked Bruno Labbadia and replaced him with Ricardo Moniz. But even he couldn’t qualify for the European Cup in the end.
Two more late coaching changes meant nothing for the teams: in 2012/13, despite staying up in the league, Bremen parted ways with Thomas Schaaf after matchday 33 and brought in Wolfgang Rolff. Bielefeld also had nothing to do with relegation in 2004/05, but exchanged Frank Geideck for Uwe Rapolder after matchday 32.
Also Bielefeld with bad experiences
But Bielefeld tried to stay up with a late change of coach: in 2008/09 Jörg Berger came on for Michael Frontzeck before the 34th matchday. Due to the 2:2 against Hanover, Arminia slipped from the relegation place to 17th place and was relegated.