Coach Torsten Lieberknecht will be missing from Bundesliga soccer team Darmstadt 98 this week for family reasons. In consultation with the club, the 50-year-old is currently with his wife and children, the Lilies announced on Monday. It is unclear whether Lieberknecht will sit on the bench against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky).
“A stroke suffered by his wife Simone is currently requiring all of Torsten’s strength and attention,” said club president Rüdiger Fritsch, according to the statement: “He receives every possible support from us as a club so that he can devote himself fully to his wife and his family.”
Assistant coach Ovid Hajou is responsible for preparing for the match day at the weekend with the support of assistant Kai Peter Schmitz and goalkeeper coach Dimo Wache. If Lieberknecht is not available for the home game against Mainz, Hajou will look after the team together with the coaching team.