Just a week after sacking coach Frank Kramer and starting the search for a new trainer, Schalke have been rocked by the announcement that sporting director Rouven Schröder is also to leave the club.
With Königsblauen fans eagerly awaiting news of the new coach comes the shock revelation that the club’s sporting director is leaving the Veltins Arena ‘for personal reasons’ with immediate effect.
Following their relegation from the Bundesliga Schröder was appointed in the summer of 2021 and constructed a squad that won instant promotion back to the topflight as 2. Bundesliga champions.
“The decision to leave Schalke 04 was anything but easy for me”, Schroder explained on Wednesday. “Together we have experienced 18 extremely intensive months. I am very grateful to the board and all employees for the trust and the time together. I will never forget the weeks surrounding the promotion in particular.
“I wish employees and fans only the best for the future and keeps my fingers crossed that we stay in the league at the end of the season.”
The club were also quick to praise his work and achievements. “Rouven has served the club brilliantly, and his efforts will possibly only be fully appreciated and noticed by others in a few years” board member Peter Knäbel said.
“Without Rouven Schröder’s work, FC Schalke 04 would not be the club we know it as today. He deserves appreciation from all Schalker. Nobody honestly thought that Schalke 04 could return to the Bundesliga within one year. This unique success story despite extremely difficult financial circumstances will never be forgotten.
“We would have gladly continued working with Rouven Schröder, but nonetheless accepted his request,” explained Dr. Bernd Schröder, Schalke CEO. On behalf of the whole board, he added: “We are so thankful for the work Rouven Schröder has done.”
The precise reasoning behind his resignation is unknown, but with the club currently bottom of the Bundesliga table and now without a coach and a sporting director, the situation is looking pretty grim for the Ruhr club. It had been hoped that an announcement over a new trainer could be made this week, but the impact of Schröder’s leaving could impinge upon that.
