Around 24 hours after Robert Klauß was released, Markus Weinzierl signed a coaching contract with 1. FC Nürnberg. Will the crashed "club" succeed in liberation with Lower Bavaria?
Nuremberg (dpa / lby) - Markus Weinzierl is obviously proud to be the coach of the traditional 1. FC Nuremberg. "The "Club" is a great club and I imagine it's a great feeling to wear the emblem on my chest. I'm happy to face this huge challenge," said the new Franken coach at his presentation on Tuesday. On Sunday, in the home game against Holstein Kiel, the 47-year-old soccer teacher will feel for the first time how the white lettering feels on the wine-red background.
After coaching positions in Regensburg and Augsburg, Markus Weinzierl was drawn to Middle Franconia this time. With the experience of more than 150 games as a Bundesliga coach, he should lead the crashed 1. FC Nürnberg out of the crisis - and at best sometime back to the top flight. But that is music of the future. First of all, the new one is in demand as a crisis manager.
Only around 24 hours after Robert Klauß was released, Weinzierl signed the contract paper "late Monday evening". The "Club" did not provide any information on Tuesday about the duration of the cooperation.
Weinzierl was clearly looking forward to his new job in Franconia, even if he had to cancel his planned vacation at short notice. "If I'm being completely honest, I was on my way to Italy with my golf clubs," reported Weinzierl about five months after his curious departure from Augsburg. But when the call came from sports director Dieter Hecking, he immediately turned around.
The Straubing native is considered a profound expert on the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga. After leading Jahn Regensburg into the second division, he established Augsburg in the upper house. His reputation as a successful coach later diminished the modest results at FC Schalke 04 and VfB Stuttgart.
In 2021, the 47-year-old returned to FCA. After considerable differences with manager Stefan Reuter, Weinzierl announced his farewell live on television on the last day of the season. Now he dares a new start at the traditional Franconian club.
The new man met his new team for the first time on the Nuremberg sidelines on Tuesday morning. "The players are getting involved with the new constellation, at least that was my first impression." Weinzierl reported that the mentality recently questioned by Captain Christopher Schindler was good: "I found everyone open and positive",
After a blatant drop in performance, the Franconians are in 14th place after ten matchdays. Rather, there is currently a threat of going into the 3rd league.
"The goal is to take a backseat for now. We have to accept the situation as it is. I hope that we'll keep scoring points until the winter break," said sporting director Dieter Hecking on Tuesday.
In addition to the bare results, the performance of the players in particular has recently caused those responsible to be very concerned. Regardless of whether it was against Heidenheim (0:3), Braunschweig (2:4) or in Karlsruhe (0:3) - the "club" practically didn't take place for at least 45 minutes. The team seemed disoriented, aimless, helpless.
Weinzierl should give the team structure again. How is he going to do it? "My approach will be to demand more discipline and commitment," said Weinzierl. He can make tough decisions. In general, however, his credo is: "Be tough, but also have the connection to the players".
The football teacher now has around four days to find the connection to the Nuremberg team. Because already on Sunday the trend reversal should be initiated with a home win against Kiel.
