After the dismissal of Thomas Reis, FC Schalke 04 is currently simmering at higher levels. Sports director Peter Knäbel could reportedly be the next to lose his job. Now there is apparently a loud call for an old friend in Gelsenkirchen.
As “Bild” writes, many Revierklub employees would like Horst Heldt to return. The 53-year-old is currently receiving daily calls from people close to the club, it is said.
Heldt had already steered the fortunes of Schalke 04 as sports director between 2010 and 2016. Most recently he worked as managing director for 1. FC Köln. There they parted ways with the former midfielder in the summer of 2021.
After the Reis exit, rumors arose at S04 that the Royal Blues could soon part ways with Knäbel. A position would therefore be available for Heldt.
“Sky” had reported that Knäbel’s contract “very likely” will not be extended beyond the summer of 2024. A premature separation would therefore only be logical.
There could also be movement in the coaching position in the near future. Assistant coach Matthias Kreutzer looked after Schalke in their recent 3-1 defeat against Paderborn. A long-term solution must now be found quickly.
According to “Bild”, two new candidates, Markus Gisdol and Marco Antwerpen, have now been targeted by the club. Gisdol was already assistant coach at Schalke under Felix Magath. He then looked after Hoffenheim, HSV and Cologne in the Bundesliga.
Antwerp brought 1. FC Kaiserslautern back to the 2nd Bundesliga in 2022. There doesn’t seem to be a trend in the coaching question yet.
The situation is different on the board, where the Gelsenkircheners want to present a new chairman soon. “We have found a new CEO and reached an agreement,” confirmed Axel Hefer, chairman of the supervisory board of FC Schalke 04, to the “German Press Agency” on Sunday. The personnel should be presented during the international break.