Turbulent year in Hoffenheim
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Relegation battle, recurring coaching speculation, upheaval in the squad, quarrels between management and patron Dietmar Hopp, a court case with the closely associated advisor Roger Wittmann: For sports director Andreas Schicker it was a turbulent first year at TSG Hoffenheim – perhaps too turbulent? According to the “PictureRed Bull Salzburg approached the 39-year-old when looking for a successor to Rouven Schröder, who had moved to Gladbach – with a very positive answer.
According to the report, there are already talks between the Salzburg team and Schicker, who is also said to have met with Jürgen Klopp, who is Global Head of Soccer at the Red Bull Group. The TSG has been informed about this. Due to the internal power struggles in Hoffenheim, Schicker is said to be not averse to a change, but he has not yet made a decision.
Schicker enjoys an excellent reputation at home, not least after the double victory with Sturm Graz in 2023/24. After he inherited Alexander Rosen in October 2024 and brought his followers with him from Graz, he was also able to steer Hoffenheim back into calmer waters after a difficult Bundesliga season with 15th place. After eight match days, the Kraichgauer are in seventh place.
Schicker sees himself on the right track with TSG Hoffenheim
Only Hopp can answer whether the relationship at the top of the club can still be repaired, said Schicker “Kicker” interviewin which he otherwise gave no signs of a possible farewell. “I think we’re on the right track, and I feel that too. When I came, I received clear orders from the shareholders. A lot of this has already been implemented. I’ve always said that you need two summer transfer periods to really recognize that. The overall constellation may be complex, but I’m still positive about the future.”
Personally, he always sought contact with the TSG patron. “It was important for me that Dietmar Hopp was included in the squad planning from day one until now. I was with him very often in my first phase, including in the spring. It is important that he is involved. In the summer I visited him personally almost weekly and kept him up to date,” explained Schicker. “Of course it’s not easy when there are certain tensions in the room. I have always attached great importance – and still do – to supporting Dietmar Hopp in the sporting area. So I have also tried to continually demonstrate the good work of the entire management.”
However, the publicly fought power struggle with advisor Wittmann led to many problems. “It’s generally not good when the influence from outside is too great. We know that from other clubs too. The most important thing is that the decisions are made by those who work in the clubs every day. Those who have a feeling for the team and for the club. That was clear to the entire management and at that point also to both shareholders,” said Schicker, who emphasized: “I will always act in the interests of the players and the club.” However, he always felt supported by the team in the sporting area and his colleagues in management.
When asked when he could one day consider the mission in Hoffenheim to be accomplished, Schicker said: “I would see it in a similar way to Sturm Graz. We won’t be double winners, that will be difficult. But when I notice that something has emerged with an existing permeability for talent, with good transfer profits and maximum sporting success – then things are looking good. That will definitely take time.” But you can be satisfied with the start of the season. “I’m positive about the way we play football now. You can see features that are very close to our game idea.”
Overall, we are on the right track. The realistic goal? “To play internationally again at some point. Maybe to build on the great times when Hoffenheim was under Julian Nagelsmann. That would be outstanding,” said Schicker. Today’s national coach led the Kraichgau team from 15th place into the Champions League. But we are still a long way from that. “It’s much more important for us to consistently continue on the path we’ve chosen. If the result is a single-digit place in the table at the end, we’ve done a lot right. But we also know that there may only be three points between ninth and 13th place, so we won’t throw everything overboard again when we get to twelfth place,” said Schicker, because it’s also clear: “To achieve the ideal, we still need time and we still need to tighten the screws.”
Kicker+ published an interview with Andreas Schicker about his 1-year term. At the time, I thought it was a bit of a shame how he was treated with hostility by some of the fans and I couldn’t understand it.
The interview shows once again what a pleasant person and, above all, an outstanding sports manager he is. We fans can be more than happy that he found his way to us. He has clear plans on how he can move the club forward, which has already been evident this season.
