Extension rejected
©IMAGO
After almost 19 years as coach of 1. FC Heidenheim, Frank Schmidt has for the first time announced his departure after his contract ends in 2027. “I will soon be in my 20th season in a row at FCH, which will probably be my last year as a coach in Heidenheim,” the 52-year-old told the “Hamburger Abendblatt“before the Bundesliga basement duel with FC St. Pauli on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky).
“In the past, I always extended my contract early and long-term. But I didn’t feel that way now,” Schmidt continued. “It wouldn’t have been fair for me to accept the offer and provide myself with personal security.”
Heidenheim’s path under Schmidt led from the then fourth-tier Oberliga in 2007 to promotion to the Bundesliga in 2023. In 741 games under his leadership, he recorded an average points average of 1.6. The bottom would be in the event of a defeat against the table 16th. St. Pauli are the first to be relegated this Bundesliga season. However, an early farewell this summer is not an option for Schmidt or the club management.
Coach Schmidt wants to “do something good” in Heidenheim
“Of course I also thought about quitting. If the sporting results are lacking, it would be strange not to question myself,” said the long-time coach. “But if the support is there, I’m not one to run away. Neither in the event of success – which I could have done to take the next step – nor in the current situation,” explained Schmidt. “I have the drive to do something good next season in my 20th and final year of contract – whatever that may be.”
He decided a long time ago that he didn’t want to sit in the coaching bench until he retired. “I’ve hardly had any breaks in the past 20 years, the job is a hamster wheel that offers hardly any opportunity to break out. And I plan to do that again in my life,” said Schmidt, looking to the future.
