Frank Kramer takes over at newly promoted Schalke 04
Former Bielefeld coach Frank Kramer is the new head coach at newly promoted Schalke 04. The 50-year-old has been given a contract until 2024 and will succeed interim coach Mike Büskens at the Knappen.
Frank Kramer should establish Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. The fans are very skeptical, and some even insult the new coach. An absurdity for those responsible. Board member Peter Knäbel draws a comparison to Max Eberl.
Khen Frank Kramer sat in the press room of the Schalke Arena for the first time, he needed the support of his colleagues. He got her.
Board member Peter Knäbel clearly condemned the sometimes very negative comments against the new FC Schalke coach on social networks. “In my opinion, personal hostilities on the net among club mates are not appropriate,” explained Knäbel.
The 55-year-old drew parallels to a case that only kept the league busy at the beginning of the year: “If I look at what we said weeks ago in the Max Eberl case, how we want to deal with each other and what we are supposed to be doing Corona and time have learned and that you don’t treat people like that, I call on all Schalke players to treat Schalke players the way they would like their clubmates to treat them. I think there is a red line there too.”
Difficult start: Frank Kramer, Schalke’s new coach, had to defend himself against hostilities from his own fans even before his first training session
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
Borussia Mönchengladbach’s sports director at the time, Eberl, resigned from the Bundesliga club in tears at the end of January. He explained his withdrawal for health reasons. Referring to rumors that had come up before, he said at the time: “What’s going to be done in 24 hours, what’s being said and speculated, that’s what makes me sick.”
Kramer sees criticism as an incentive
Schalke’s sports director Rouven Schröder also commented on the comments against Kramer. “It’s a social issue that people are quick to judge. That 95 percent directly say: “Nah,” he said. “And despite everything, one has to say: The past doesn’t teach us anything. Now we go back to ourselves and say, “Yes, that’s right, you’re right.” And tomorrow a different decision will be made and then it’ll all go in the same direction.”
Kramer was officially introduced as the new Schalke coach on Tuesday. With a view to the Schalke fans, some of whom were negative even before the official confirmation, the new coach emphasized: “That doesn’t annoy me. On the contrary, it spurs me on. We want to change the mood through our work.”
