Zero to Hero: Bielefeld coach Kniat recalls "begging fans to come to the stadium" in dark days

Arminia Bielefeld's Mitch Kniat is looking forward to his first season in charge in the 2.Bundesliga with great anticipation.

However, the club's head coach notes how they didn't have it all their own way and effectively had to plead with locals to come to the games.

"When I started, we had to call people, more or less begging fans to come to the stadium to buy season tickets or keep them," he told RTL/ntv.

Changes have already been spotted by the 39-year-old head coach who has already noted the influx in support for Die Arminien as they prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.

“Jersey sales and season ticket sales [are increasing]. We're happy about that, and it's also the aftermath of the good last season," he added.

Having joined in 2023 and narrowly avoided relegation in his first year, Kniat coached Bielefeld to the 3.Liga title and the DFB-Pokal final last season and galvanized the fanbase.

Before the league opener against Fortuna Düsseldorf, he hopes “that things will improve more often and that we can minimize the phases that then point downwards.”