Analysis: Early departing coaches turn clubs into season losers

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, May 17, 2021
Adjust font size:

By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Delicate coaching issues remain the Bundesliga's main topic in advance of the 2020-21 season's final round of matches next weekend.

Rarely in the German national league's history has the announcement of coaches to leave early had a similarly significant effect on leading clubs.

While Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg reached their season-goals in a stunning finish, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Moenchengladbach, and RB Leipzig saw significant setbacks due to turmoil around their head coaches.

Since Marco Rose in Moenchengladbach and Adi Huetter in Frankfurt announced their departure despite long-lasting contracts, both clubs struggled on their way to qualifying for the Champions League.

Being crushed in the German Cup final against Dortmund (4-1) leaves behind a bitter taste for Leipzig after Julian Nagelsmann revealed his deal with Bayern Munich.

Bayern might have won its 9th consecutive national title but failed to achieve success in the Champions League and the German Cup due to disharmonies caused by head coach Hansi Flick's farewell after this season.

Other than Rose (Dortmund), Huetter (Moenchengladbach), and Nagelsmann, Dortmund interim coach Edin Terzic and Wolfsburg's manager Oliver Glasner kept their plans a secret and entirely focused on the season's outcome.

The change of coaches for bottom sides such as Arminia Bielefeld, Werder Bremen, FC Augsburg, FSV Mainz and the 1. FC Cologne appears understandable, but the mess at the top created a long list of winners and losers.

WINNERS

Edin Terzic not only made Dortmund's dreams come true despite a difficult season but won the hearts of fans.

After having won the 2021 German Cup and securing the Black and Yellow's next season Champions League participation, Dortmund's supporters might forgive the 38-year-old for breaking his promise to stay as an assistant coach under Rose and step back to the second row.

Terzic is a strong candidate to follow Huetter in Frankfurt as their head coach. Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said: "If he is up to other plans, we will talk with him."

Oliver Glasner managed to lead Wolfsburg back to the Champions League for the first time after 2009 despite disharmonies with the club's CEO Joerg Schmadtke and sporting director Marcel Schaefer.

The Austrian gained the attention of other leading clubs such as Frankfurt and Leverkusen, keeping his feet still for the club's benefit.

LOSERS

Both Rose and Huetter used exit-clauses to leave early. Clubs in the future might consider avoiding exit clauses in contracts with their coaches but insist on a total commitment.

Both Frankfurt and Moenchengladbach suffer from a financial loss of up to 50 million due to missing the Champions League.

Losing 4-3 to relegated Schalke 04, Frankfurt midfielder Sebastian Rode said the coach's decision affected the team's performance.

Flick's decision to leave after seven titles in only 18 months and his status as the most likely to follow Joachim Loew as Germany coach triggered a chain of further departures. Assistant coach and former German international Miroslav Klose is leaving aside club icon Herrmann Gerland, who served the club for 25 years at different posts. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter