1. FC Heidenheim CEO Affirms Support for Coach Frank Schmidt Amid Relegation Concerns

omidbasir- In an interview with Germany’s Deutsche-Presse-Agentur, Holger Sanwald, the CEO of 1. FC Heidenheim, assured that head coach Frank Schmidt will remain in his position, even in the event of relegation from the Bundesliga. Schmidt is notable for being the second head coach in the club’s history since its consolidation in 2006, having taken over the role in 2007 and nearing two decades of service at the helm.

At 52 years old, Schmidt spent the majority of his playing career at Heidenheim, his hometown club. He concluded his playing days with the former Heidenheimer SB, contributing significantly to the team’s rise from the fifth tier and establishing stability in the fourth tier. While Schmidt has expressed serious concerns regarding his ability to prevent relegation this season, he maintains a positive outlook as long as his players meet his performance expectations.

“Of course he can stay if he wants to,” Sanwald stated during the interview. “Frank still has a contract that extends through the end of next season, and we are fully aware of what we owe him. He has evolved into an even more competent coach due to the experiences he has gained over this season and in previous ones. The fact that we are at the bottom of the table is not his fault.”