Hoffenheim’s parting of the ways with trainer Alfred Schreuder with just 18 days left of the season came as a bit of a shock with the club heading towards Europa League qualification. In the end the Sinsheim club pipped VfL Wolfsburg to sixth place, so all’s well that ends well.
Now the club must find a long-term replacement for the trainer position after Julian Nagelsmann’s successor lasted less then one season. “There will be names circulating around us in the coming weeks, but we’re relaxed about it” explained sporting director Alexander Rosen. “We will say something when there is something to confirm.”
Who then are the candidates to the reins at the Prezero Arena?
Sandro Schwarz
Mainz parted company with Schwarz back in November after more than two years in charge of the Nullfünfer and he is featuring quite heavily in the speculation surrounding the TSG vacancy.
He wants a return to the Bundesliga after being very disappointed at not being given the chance to turn things around at Mainz. In his favour is the fact that his teams play attacking football (à la Nagelsmann).
Tim Walter
Former VfB Stuttgart coach Tim Walter is also believed to be high on the list of potential new coaches. The 44-year-old was sacked by the Swabians just before Christmas after a run of three wins in 10 games- he’s only been in the job six months.
Walter had previously coached for a short while at both Bayern Munich II and Holstein Kiel. He is relatively inexperienced, but discussions have taken place for him to succeed Schreuder if reports are to be believed.
Florian Kohfeldt
Hoffenheim will be keeping a very close eye on developments at Werder Bremen with their coach Florian Kohfeldt a potentially interesting option. Bremen have kept faith in the 37-year-old as they have struggled to beat the drop, but should they not survive their play-off with Heidenheim, it may come to a parting of the ways if the young trainer sees his future in the Bundesliga rather than the 2. Bundesliga. Watch this space.
Michael Schiele
Würzburg have just been led to promotion the 2. Bundesliga with trainer Michael Schiele at the helm, but could the 42-year-old be about to leapfrog instantly into the topflight?
His contract was only extended after they had achieved promotion, but a potential move to the Bundesliga would surely be tempting. He came to Hoffenheim’s attention back in August when TSG faced Würzburg in the first round of the DFB Pokal and were taken to penalties by the 3. Liga side before winning 5-4.
Peter Zeidler
Looking outside Germany, St Gallen’s Peter Zeidler has emerged as a candidate. The German coach is well known to the club having spent three years as Ralf Rangnick’s assistant between 2008-2011.
With eight games still to play this season, St. Gallen lead the Swiss Raiffeisen Super League with a two-point advantage of Young Bots and an eight-point advantage of champions FC Basel.
Zsolt Löw
The 41-year-old Hungarian is currently Thomas Tuchel’s assistant at PSG, but one day will be looking to make the jump to being a trainer in his own right. The club now him well as he was part of the squad that won promotion to the Bundesliga back in 2008. One day? How about now?
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