Football fans rarely get such insights!
Coach layoffs belong in the Bundesliga for day-to-day business. In most cases, however, only the people involved know how they really work. There are hardly any insights for the fans and background to the reactions of those who were fired. Instead, we often only hear standard phrases from those responsible and those who suffer.
In the new focus episode of “Stammplatz”, the daily football podcast from BILD, former Bundesliga coach Manuel Baum (43) reveals how his layoffs at FC Augsburg and up Schalke really started. The differences could hardly be greater.
Baum: “When we lost 5-1 in Freiburg in the 2018/19 season, FCA manager Stefan Reuter, with whom I had a very open and good relationship, approached me and told me that things were now tight for me will That was well before the actual release. After the announcement we beat BVB, drew in Leipzig and then also celebrated a win against Hannover. However, that was followed by three defeats and after that it was really over for FCA.”
Baum found it difficult to say goodbye to Augsburg. The night after his release, he drove back to his coach’s office. Once there, he placed signed books on the employees’ workstations.
Completely different picture after his Schalke exit. This came as a great surprise to Baum.
“Everything was very tightly timed at Schalke. The next day was the game against Bielefeld. I then called a few players. But it was important to me that everyone could concentrate on their job and no longer feel sorry for the coach.”
Even the dismissal of Baum could no longer help FC Schalke in the 2020/21 season. The club was relegated from the Bundesliga as bottom of the table.
You can hear the whole conversation in the current episode. “Stammplatz” is available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify – and everywhere else that has podcasts!
Further topics in the focus episode:
► Why Baum would rather be fired on the phone than in the office.
► Why he could understand that clubs have dealt with other coaches even though he was still in office.
► Why coaches should definitely be present in the media these days.
App users can access the podcast here!
“Stammplatz” is the daily football podcast from BILD. The BILD football reporters, who are on site at every Bundesliga club every day, give first-hand impressions, insights and background information. From the stadiums, training grounds and changing rooms – straight to the fans’ ears!
