Ex-Bielefeld player Koschinat takes over VfL Osnabrück
Second division bottom club VfL Osnabrück have appointed Uwe Koschinat as their new coach. The 52-year-old successor to promotion coach Tobias Schweinsteiger will lead his first training session on Monday, the soccer club announced this morning.
"The challenge we face is brutally difficult," said Koschinat about his new role at the bottom club in the table, who have been winless for seven games. "There are no two opinions. But that's precisely our incentive. Hardly anyone out there believes we can do anything at the moment."
The experienced soccer coach was relegated from Bundesliga 2 with Arminia Bielefeld last season, but was previously much more successful at 1. FC Saarbrücken, SV Sandhausen and Fortuna Köln. He was one of the candidates at Osnabrück a year ago, before the club from Lower Saxony opted for Schweinsteiger and won promotion from the 3rd division with him.
"There are clubs that you somehow have a certain connection to," said Koschinat. "I always enjoyed playing against VfL and loved traveling to the Bridge. Many people associate this stadium with soccer romance and tradition, for me it's pure energy." Koschinat's first match as Osnabrück coach will be the relegation battle at 16th-placed FC Schalke 04 on Friday evening (18:30/Sky).
Koschinat's previous coaching experience includes a stint in Bundesliga 2 with Arminia Bielefeld, who unfortunately got relegated last season. In his new role at VfL Osnabrück, a team currently struggling in Bundesliga 2 with seven consecutive winless games, he acknowledged the tough challenge ahead.
Despite the challenging position of VfL Osnabrück in Bundesliga 2, Koschinat expressed a sense of enthusiasm, mentioning his fondness for the club and the history associated with their home stadium.
Source: www.dpa.com
