Kramer successor found
After the resignation of sports director Rouven Schröder for personal reasons, FC Schalke 04 can at least report good news on Thursday morning regarding the search for a coach: As expected, Thomas Reis takes over from the recently released Frank Kramer at the second attempt. The 49-year-old will lead the first unit on the day of his presentation. There is said to have been contact between Schalke and Reis in the summer, but he stayed in Bochum for the time being.
Reis will receive a contract with the Royal Blues until 2024 and should lead the bottom of the table to stay up. Schalke had recently reached an agreement with VfL Bochum on a performance-related fee for Reis, which according to the “sports buzzer“ can amount to up to 500,000 euros. The 49-year-old should even pay part of the sum himself. After the worst start to the season in Bundesliga history, Schalke’s regional rivals parted ways in mid-September with the coach who had led the traditional club back to the Bundesliga in 2021 and kept it there comfortably.
Sport director Peter Knäbel, who is taking over the duties of Schröder on an interim basis, said: “We are very happy that we were able to win Thomas Reis as the new head coach for Schalke 04. In the short term it will be about getting as many points as possible from the four games before the World Cup break. Afterwards, it will be of crucial importance to use the long winter break in such a way that the team and coaching staff are optimally prepared for the 19 games up to the end of the season. We are convinced that Thomas is exactly the right man for these tasks.”
Schalke-Bank since Breitenreiter: Only Büskens came close to scoring
Reis himself said: “I’m really happy to be part of FC Schalke 04. The conversations were very good from the first minute. With their promotion last season, Schalke started an unbelievable success story that we now want to continue by staying up. The challenge is undoubtedly a big one, but I’m firmly convinced that we have the necessary quality in the squad to achieve our big goal together.”
Reis is already the seventh coach of the traditional club in two years. In Dimitrios Grammozis, an ex-coach is still on the payroll, but the clammy district club canceled the contract with Kramer. According to media reports, as in the summer before Kramer’s commitment, Schalke again received a number of rejections when looking for a coach. Bruno Labbadia, among others, is said to have waved him off. The former Swiss national coach Vladimir Petkovic, who was also brought into play alongside Reis, is said to have canceled S04, according to Blick. The 59-year-old had too many concerns about the club’s situation.
New head coach for royal blue: Thomas Reis takes over responsibility for the licensed team at the Royal Blues with immediate effect #S04.
Welcome and good luck, Thomas
For notification
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) October 27, 2022
To home page