Heidenheim CEO Affirms Coach Schmidt’s Position Amid Relegation Concerns

omidbasir- In a recent interview with Germany’s Deutsche-Presse-Agentur, 1. FC Heidenheim CEO Holger Sanwald assured that head coach Frank Schmidt will retain his position even in the event of relegation from the Bundesliga. Schmidt is only the second individual to hold the head coaching role since the club’s consolidation in 2006. Having taken the reins in 2007, Schmidt is approaching two decades of leadership at the BaWü club.

The 52-year-old Schmidt spent the majority of his playing career at Heidenheim, his hometown club. He concluded his playing days at the former Heidenheimer SB, where he played for four seasons, contributing to the team’s promotion from the fifth tier and its stabilization in the fourth tier. Despite expressing deep concern over the possibility of relegation this season, Schmidt remains optimistic whenever his players meet his performance expectations.

“Of course [he can remain] if he wants to,” Sanwald stated to the dpa. “Frank still has a contract that runs through the end of next season, and we are fully aware of what we owe him. He has evolved into an even better coach due to the experiences he has gained throughout this season and in previous years. The fact that we find ourselves at the bottom of the table is not his fault.”