Karel Geraerts is fired: Who else is going to put up with FC Schalke 04?

Ten coaches burned since 2020
Hello? Hello? Who can save FC Schalke 04 now?

By Tobias Nordmann
21.09.2024, 12:15

FC Schalke 04 is once again looking for a new head coach. After an unbelievable defeat against Darmstadt 98, Karel Geraerts is no longer able to continue. The traditional club from Gelsenkirchen is plummeting to the bottom of the table. Is there a savior somewhere?

Hello? Hello? Is there a coach somewhere who can or wants to save FC Schalke 04? Yes, that is a legitimate question. Because hardly any other club has such a pronounced hire-and-fire approach on the bench as the traditional club from Gelsenkirchen. Karel Geraerts is the 33rd coach (including all interim solutions) to be thrown out of office this millennium. He is also the tenth coach the club has worn out since 2020 (!). Sustainability is a matter close to the heart of the club and is driven forward with passion. But sustainability has not yet reached the man (so far it has always been one) on the sidelines.

But they are also looking for the next candidate to take on the gigantic project of first stabilising these tumbling giants and then slowly bringing them back to their former greatness. This is what they have been hoping for in Gelsenkirchen for years and they are constantly disappointed. The club only knows one direction: downhill. After six match days, the Royals are at the bottom of the table. Another season of relegation battles is looming. But everything should be calmer, more relaxed and better. But this plan was essentially torpedoed at the start of this season. In terms of sport, there were weak performances. And off the pitch, there was a power struggle between the coach and squad planner Ben Manga, who had publicly criticised Geraerts for his line-ups. The Belgian had placed little or no trust in the squad planner’s discoveries, Manga expressed his displeasure and blamed the coach for the weak start to the season.

Not a good light on the relationship

The fact that the Belgian would have to go was as likely as a traffic jam on the A40, the chronically congested motorway through the middle of the Ruhr region. Marc Wilmots, the revered Eurofighter and sports director, was also ousted from his position along with the coach. He stood loyally by Geraerts’ side until the end. The club accused the increasingly perplexed but still combative coach of a negative overall development. “Tactically and football-wise” the team “did not take the necessary steps”. The announcement of his dismissal did not contain a word of thanks. That does not shed a good light on the internal atmosphere.

According to the club, they were not on the same page with Wilmots about Schalke’s future course. At least they gave the Eurofighter a few polite words and a welcome forever. Given the serious legal action, it seems unlikely that a win against Darmstadt on Friday evening would have given the coach a little more time in office. There was nothing left to really fix.

Unrest quickly turns into panic at Schalke

For 45 minutes on Friday evening, it looked as if the team was still following their coach. Schalke were leading 3-0 and were playing well and courageously. Then, just before half-time, the visitors were awarded a penalty and everything fell apart. The shocked fans whistled in their anger and panic.

It takes a lot of imagination to imagine that he will soon be a savior who can quickly treat the burning wounds in this pain-tormented club. This team seems too insecure, too incomplete. Geraerts, who had previously coached Union Saint-Gilloise and players such as Victor Boniface, was not only stumped by the team’s poor performances, which were mainly due to the hair-raisingly wild defense. He also never got the scenes off the pitch under control, with dissatisfied players and line-up and tactical debates. There are also good reasons for the split. But don’t the problems lie deeper, given the ludicrous hire-and-fire approach of this millennium?

Most recently, he was told by his captain Kenan Karaman, who always appeared loyal in public, that he needed to be more sensitive to the situation with his controversial line-up decisions. It was already clear then: Schalke is on fire. It is burning brightly. And every attempt to put out the fire had the opposite effect. Even his predecessor Thomas Reis, who was still a celebrated beacon of hope in the relegation season, quickly noticed how much unrest at this location turns into panic.

Now it’s all about manga

On Friday evening, when the defeat and the blaring whistles from the stands were still ringing in his ears, Kenan Karaman wished for “internal calm”. He probably knew right away that this wish would never be granted. This matchday is the day when the team is at risk of falling into a relegation spot. And the next tasks could hardly be more unpleasant. On Saturday, the team will face Preußen Münster. The unsettled Schalke team must first hold its own in front of the emotional crowd. And that in a direct duel with one of their competitors in the relegation battle, as things stand. After that, Hertha BSC will come to the home arena. Another giant looking for stability and its role this season.

The current U23 coach Jakob Fimpel will take over until the international break in mid-October. After that, the new man/woman should be found and in office. Squad planner Ben Manga, who has only been with the club since May and is said to have been no fan of Geraerts’ work, must now sort things out. Wilmots’ departure gives him even more power when it comes to shaping the personnel. There is no money for a major solution à la Thomas Tuchel or Joachim Löw (two little jokes) – and probably no ambition on the part of the coaching icons, who are certainly available. According to media reports, Manga had already planned a change in the coaching position in the summer and had two candidates on the hook. Is any of them still on the hook? Memes of Peter Neururer and Felix Magath are currently running hot on social media. Who’s doing it? Hello? Hello?