Kicker Report: Hoffenheim have replacement lined up for Rosen
With TSG 1899 Hoffenheim set for a rather disappointing finish in the league, questions regarding the future of both trainer Pellegrino Matarazzo and club sporting director Alexander Rosen are beginning to emerge. It looks to be the case that - if the Kraichgauer fail to qualify for Europe this season - a full coaching/administrative housecleaning might be in order.
Hoffenheim have fired both their sporting director and head-coach on the same day once before. Rosen himself was promoted after Andreas Müller and Marco Kurz both got the axe in March of 2013. Rosen finds himself under particular scrutiny following incoming transfer flops such as Attila Szalai, Mërgim Berisha, and Anton Stach. The loss of Christopher Baumgartner to RB Leipzig also doesn't help his case.
German footballing journalist Benni Hofmann of Germany's Kicker Magazine reports that the Sinsheimers have a replacement for Rosen lined up. Austrian Andreas Schicker never made the jump to German football as a player, but may be preparing to come to the Bundesrepublik as a footballing administrator. The 37-year-old currently serves as the sporting director for Sturm Graz.
Rosen's current contract only runs through the end of next season. It's not inconceivable that the 45-year-old himself may not be preparing to resign following 14 years at the club as a manager. Both Rosen and Matarazzo were rumored to be in line for the double-axe when Hoffenheim faced relegation last season. The duo were spared via a critical win over Hertha in round 25 of the 2023/24 campaign.
