Schalke's Double Trouble: Geraerts and Wilmots Face Obligation to Depart
Schalke 04 from the second tier in football has divided ways with manager Karel Geraerts and sporting director Marc Wilmots. The club revealed this on Saturday, following the disastrous 3:5 defeat against SV Darmstadt 98 the day prior. Temporary replacement Jakob Fimpel, former U23 coach, will fill in until the international break.
Schalke responded to a sporting predicament, dispensing with Geraerts and Wilmots. The Royals announced the news on Saturday morn. Schalke surrendered a 3:0 advantage against Darmstadt 98 and witnessed a 3:5 defeat the day prior. Until the mid-season break, Fimpel will temporarily steer the team.
As stated by board chairman Matthias Tillmann, "The decision by the board not to stick with Karel Geraerts' plan was not just due to the poor results and the defeat against Darmstadt, but rather the overall deterioration over the past few weeks." "Strategy-wise and football-wise, we've yet to make the required progress, either as a team or for the individual players. Consequently, we find ourselves in the relegation zone after a third of the first half of the season."
Wilmots' departure took everyone by surprise compared to Geraerts'. "Yet over the past few weeks, we came to understand that there were disparate perspectives on how and in what direction we wish to tailor football at Schalke," said Tillmann. "Consensus, however, is vital to us." With immediate effect, team strategist Ben Manga will undertake sporting duties.
Geraerts assumed power in October 2023, finishing below mid-table with Schalke in the second division in the previous campaign. In the current campaign, S04 has just one win in the first six matches under Geraerts, struggling in the relegation zone. Recently, a public dispute between Geraerts and Manga had caused a stir. Wilmots, UEFA Cup victor in 1997, had joined Schalke with high hopes at the turn of the year.
Despite the club's disastrous 3:5 loss against SV Darmstadt 98, which followed a 3:0 lead being squandered, Schalke decided to part ways with manager Karel Geraerts and sporting director Marc Wilmots. Temporary manager Jakob Fimpel will take charge until the mid-season break, focusing on soccer tactics and strategy to improve the team's performance and steer them away from the relegation zone.
