Schalke replace Weinzierl with Tedesco
June 9, 2017
Schalke parted company with head coach Markus Weinzierl on Friday after just a year at the helm.
Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel said the decision came after club officials examined the best way to "lay foundations for a successful future."
"The result of our deliberations is that we must make changes to drive the development we want. This also includes a new appointment of the head coach," said Heidel. "This decision was not easy for me. My thanks go to Markus Weinzierl, whom I wish all the best for the future."
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The Royal Blues recruited Weinzierl from Augsburg shortly after Christian Heidel was named the club's sporting director last May. Schalke reportedly paid Augsburg 3.5 million euros ($3.88 million in 2016) in compensation.
Weinzierl led Schalke to a 10th place finish in the Bundesliga last season. It was their worst showing in Germany's top division in six years.
The club announced Domenico Tedesco will take his place next season. The 31-year-old coach has been in charge of second division club Erzgebirge Aue since March 8, saving the club from relegation to the third tier.
The appointment appears to have been influenced by the success enjoyed by Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim had last season with another young coach, Julian Nagelsmann. Having taken over in February 2016 aged just 28, Naglesmann has now led Hoffenheim to a best-ever fourth-place finish and qualification for the Champions League.
Read: Julian Nagelsmann extends Hoffenheim contract until 2021
Tedesco received his coaching badges alongside Nagelsmann and worked with him at Hoffenheim as coach of the under-19 squad.
"Domenico Tedesco does not yet have a lot of experience in the professional field, but he has convinced us in his conversations about how he wants to shape the sporting future at Schalke 04," Heidel said. "Like many other clubs, we are focusing on a very special and innovative coach.