- Frank Schmidt: "At 60, I'm not a coach anymore"
Heidenheim Coach Frank Schmidt plans to retire from coaching on time. "It's clear to me: At 60, I won't be a coach anymore, and Christian Streich is a good example of that," said the 50-year-old coach of Bundesliga side 1. FC Heidenheim to the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and "Stuttgarter Nachrichten".
However, after finishing eighth in the first Bundesliga season of the Heidenheimers and qualifying for the playoffs in the Conference League, the long-serving FCH coach did not consider retiring. "If I thought that way, maybe now would indeed be the right time. But we're different at FCH, I'm different. I feel a sense of responsibility. I'm extremely deeply rooted here. I've made a commitment until 2027. And Frank Schmidt has never backed out."
Therefore, a change before the end of his contract is out of the question for Schmidt. "Of course, I could also trust myself with something else. But it's clear: I preach values like reliability to my players. I would sell my soul if I didn't fulfill my contract until 2027. What comes next, who knows," said Schmidt.
Despite his plans to retire at age 60, Frank Schmidt's dedication to 1. FC Heidenheim in Germany has led him to reconsider, as he feels a strong sense of responsibility and deep roots at the club. After committing to stay until 2027, Schmidt has ruled out any change before then, emphasizing his commitment to fulfilling his contract.
