GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany ( Associated Press) — Schalke on Tuesday appointed Frank Kramer as coach to help ensure the team’s survival in the Bundesliga after a season in the second division.
The Gelsenkirchen-based club stated that Kramer signed for two seasons and would replace Michael Buskens, who led the team to promotion. as interim coach. Buskens, already a great Schalke club from his playing days, is returning to his position as assistant coach.
“We asked ourselves what profile a new coach should have in order to play football successfully with Schalke. And success in our current position means staying in 2022-23 – that’s what it’s all about,” said Schalke board member Peter Nabel said in a statement.
Kramer, 50, previously coached Armenia Bielefeld but was fired in April In the club’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to avoid relegation. He had a record of 10 wins, 16 draws and 18 losses since taking over in March 2021.
Kramer previously coached Grüther Firth and Fortuna Düsseldorf, while he also worked with youth teams in the German Football Federation.
He has known Schalke sporting director Reuven Schröder together at Firth between 2013–14.
“Frank is a complete team player,” Schröder said. “Someone who can lead people and likes to seek advice from experts to find the best possible solution for the team. And at the same time he is always ready to lead the way and take responsibility – a combination we believe in leads to success.”
Kramer will be assisted by Buskens, Mathias Kreutzer, goalkeeping coach Simon Henzler and general player manager Gerald Asamoa.
“I can hardly wait to work with the team and staff,” Kramer said. “Schalke, with approximately 160,000 members and millions of fans, is one of the largest clubs in Germany.”
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