From youth player to opponent
96 coach Titz before a special duel
February 27, 2026 – 1:25 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Hannover 96 will play away at Arminia Bielefeld on matchday 24. The two coaches share a common past.
On the 24th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, Christian Titz and Mitch Kniat will face each other as opponents. The trainers of Hannover 96 and Arminia Bielefeld have more in common than just this game: they have known each other for more than 20 years.
From 2002 to 2004, Arminia coach Kniat played for Alemannia Aachen’s U19 team under Christian Titz. “He was captain for me and led the way,” said the 54-year-old. Kniat was a strong-willed, consistent defender. The way his team plays today bears this hallmark.
Christian Titz remembered that they had a good relationship as players and coaches. Even later, when both still lived in Aachen, they met more often. Nowadays we usually only see each other on match days. “It’s a very relaxed, pleasant relationship because we know each other well,” said the 96 coach.
He is pleased that the 40-year-old Kniat is now on the sidelines in the 2nd Bundesliga. “He is one of 36 professional coaches in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, which is an extraordinary achievement.”
In the 2003/04 season, Kniat played 24 games under Titz in Aachen’s U19. The team ended the season in eleventh place in what was then the Junior Bundesliga, with Kniat contributing four goals to stay in the league.
This is the third time the two have met as head coaches. So far, the record speaks clearly for Titz: In April 2022, he won 5-4 with 1. FC Magdeburg against Kniats SC Verl. Hannover 96 won the first leg of the current season 3-1 in September.
