Nothing will come of the planned comeback for the time being: German master coach Andre Breitenreiter’s return to Switzerland is apparently canceled.
FC Zurich is still looking for a new trainer. On Thursday, the Swiss club parted ways with Mitchell van der Gaag. In the last few days the name André Breitenreiter suddenly popped up. An old acquaintance in the Swiss metropolis.
With Breitenreiter, the Zurich team won the league championship in 2022. There are good memories associated with the name. The FCZ is now only eighth in the Super League with 13 points from nine games.
The 52-year-old is said to have been at the top of the FCZ list, reports “Blick”. The return of the coach was discussed as a priority. There is also said to have been contact between the coach and the club. However, the decision was made on Friday morning: Breitenreiter will not be the new coach in Zurich.
The master coach has rejected his former team, reports the Swiss newspaper.
Breitenreiter failed at Hannover 96
It would probably have been the ideal solution for the FCZ. Breitenreiter continues to maintain a close connection with the club and has also followed developments from a distance, the report says.
Above all, his empathy and player development are highly valued in Switzerland.
Another candidate who is being traded in Zurich is Alfred Schreuder. He is also an old acquaintance from the Bundesliga. From 2019 to 2020 he coached TSG Hoffenheim. He has been without a permanent position since his last stop in the United Arab Emirates.
Video: Coach chaos in the 2nd Bundesliga
Breitenreiter was most recently active in the 2nd Bundesliga with Hannover 96. In December 2024 he took over Stefan Leitl’s position there. However, he did not bring the club into more successful waters and was released in April 2025 after just four months.
At the time of the expulsion, the former Bundesliga club had been without a win for five games and was already six points behind the relegation place.