Schalke fired head coach Frank Kramer on Wednesday. The sacking certainly did not come as a surprise to many at the club. Kramer’s last game in charge was a tough 5–1 loss to Hoffenheim in the German Cup.
The cup defeat was the club’s fifth successive loss in all competitions. In the last game before the 5-1 loss to Hoffenheim, Schalke lost 3-0 to Hoffenheim themselves. Then, in the previous meeting, Bayer Leverkusen beat Schalke 3-0. Leverkusen’s defeat was former star midfielder Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge of a senior club.
“After achieving promotion last season, our goal for the new campaign was to stay in the Bundesliga,” said Schalke sporting director Rouven Schroder. “Until recently we were convinced that we could turn things around with the current coaching setup, but from our point of view we have now reached a point where we have to make a change.”
Schalke sack coach amid losing streak
Schalke currently has just one win in the Bundesliga and sits in 17th place in the standings. Their only win came in a September clash with VfL Bochum, a team currently bottom of the league.
“The way we have been playing, especially in the away games against Leverkusen and Hoffenheim, is not worthy of FC Schalke 04,” proclaimed Peter Knabel, a member of the team’s board. “This analysis goes beyond the head coach as an individual. We need to improve significantly in all areas in order to achieve our common goal for the season: to stay in the Bundesliga.”
The German outlet Bild claims that Schalke looks to Thomas Reis as Kramer’s successor. VfL Bochum sacked Reis last month. In fact, Bochum only fired Reis after losing to Schalke on September 10 by a score of 3-1.
Schalke suffered relegation to the German second division after 2020/21. However, the Royal Blues quickly regained promotion to the top flight. However, it will be an uphill battle for the club to remain in the Bundesliga.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Kirchner-Media
