Report: New Mainz CEO and Sporting Director have selected new coach
The change of leadership at endangered Bundesliga club FSV Mainz is now officially complete.
After spending the holiday with family in Mallorca, former club executive Christian Heidel has returned the Bundesrepublik.
He brings with him former FC Augsburg coach Martin Schmidt, who shall be introduced as the club's new sporting director, in tow.
Germany's SportBild reports that the pair may have a new trainer to introduce as early as today.
After parting company with Rouven Schröder shortly before the Christmas break, relegation-threatened Rheinhessen club FSV Mainz 05 deferred their full administrative overhaul until after the holiday. Two of the organization's most important posts have been filled. The announcement confirmed who will lead the actual team on the pitch should be forthcoming soon.
After spending the holiday with family in Mallorca, former club executive Christian Heidel has returned the Bundesrepublik.
He brings with him former FC Augsburg coach Martin Schmidt, who shall be introduced as the club's new sporting director, in tow.
Germany's SportBild reports that the pair may have a new trainer to introduce as early as today.
Fifty-seven-year-old footballing executive Christian Heidel returns to the club where he worked as the Bundesliga's longest chief sporting executive. After an unsuccessful three-year-stint at Schalke, the CEO is back in the Pfalz, where he served for 24 years.
Multiple sources confirm that he has selected former Mainz player and trainer Martin Schmidt, most recently dismissed by Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, as his new sporting director. The man who once promoted internally to catapult Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel to widespread fame reportedly also wishes to reward another "club man" with the head-coaching position.
Germany's SportBild reports that both CEO and Sporting Director currently finalize contract details with former Nullfünfter player and youth coach Bo Svensson, currently of FC Liefering in the second-tier Austrian League. The 41-year-old Dane ended his career with 109 appearances for Mainz between 2007 and 2014. After retiring as a player, he worked as a scout and youth academy coach with the club until 2019.
German footballing magazine Kicker reports that Mainz will have to compensate Liefering for Svensson. The Austrian club itself had to pay a transfer fee of sorts to the Pfälzer to acquire Svensson's services previously. Kicker suggests that the contract contains an offset clause that should enable negotiations to be straightforwardly concluded.