On New Year’s Day it emerged that FC Schalke 04 wanted to bring club icon Marc Wilmots back to Gelsenkirchen. According to a Belgian media report, the miners have already wrapped up the spectacular personnel hammer.
On Monday, “Bild” reported that the new CEO Matthias Tillmann and supervisory board boss Axel Hefer want to bring S04 legend Marc Wilmots back to the Revierklub as sports director. According to the Belgian TV station “VRT”, the 54-year-old has already signed his contract with FC Schalke 04. There is talk of a term until 2026.
The former Belgian national coach is to be introduced as the new sports director of the Bundesliga relegated team on Thursday. André Hechelmann has actually held this position since the summer. “Bild” speculates that Hechelmann will now have to subordinate himself to the Belgian as technical director.
FC Schalke 04: Wilmots is probably returning
There are no plans for Wilmots to succeed Peter Knäbel as sports director. According to “Bild”, the position will not be filled for the time being. The official S04 announcement said they wanted to make far-reaching changes to the structures at the management level in Gelsenkirchen.
On Monday, the second division club announced that it would terminate the contract, which was originally dated June 30, 2024, by “mutual agreement” with immediate effect. Knäbel will still remain as an advisor to the Royal Blues until the summer. The sports director decided not to extend his contract in November.
For Wilmots, an S04 commitment would be the second after his active career. In the final phase of the 2002/2003 season he briefly looked after the traditional club as an interim coach. At that time he was responsible for eight games (three wins, four defeats, one draw). The Eurofighter is scheduled to hit the training camp in Portugal this week.