Huub Stevens once led FC Schalke 04 to the UEFA Cup triumph and also looked after other Bundesliga clubs. Now he makes it clear: He will never sit on the bench again.
For health reasons, long-time Bundesliga coach Huub Stevens has declared his career over. “I’ll be 70 this year, my coaching career is definitely over,” Stevens told Cologne’s “Express”.
“I actually recently had a request from a club from the Netherlands, but I don’t risk it anymore,” he said: “I couldn’t answer that to my family and the club.”
No coach and no official anymore
He also ruled out a job as an official. “No, I’m no longer taking on an official position,” said the 69-year-old: “I’m no longer actively involved. You can ask my opinion at any time, but nothing more.”
The reason for the step lies in the health of the Dutchman. “My body sent out a clear warning,” he said: “I was taken to the hospital because I suddenly felt pain in my chest. The doctors diagnosed pericarditis.”
Pericarditis a “yellow card for me”
That was “the clear yellow card for me”: “It was a clear sign that I have to take even more care of myself. I’m doing better now, I can do light fitness training again.” He also recently got new knee joints. “I should have had that done ten years earlier. After the surgery I was able to play 18 holes on the golf course without any problems. Before that I always had severe pain in my knees.”
In Germany, Stevens coached FC Schalke 04 four times, including two interim periods, with whom he won the 1997 UEFA Cup and was voted “Coach of the Century”. He was also with Hertha BSC (2002/03), 1. FC Köln (2004/05), Hamburger SV (2007/08), VfB Stuttgart (2014/15) and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (2015/16). active. He wants to follow his heart club Schalke on Sunday against 1. FC Köln in the stadium for the first time in a long time.