Magath to sign four-year contract as general manager and head coach
06.05.2009
The supervisory board of FC Schalke 04 has unanimously agreed to appoint Felix Magath as the club's new general manager and head coach. Magath will also take a seat on the managing board. The 55-year-old will put pen to paper on a contract with no restrictions that will run until 30 June 2013.
"We're delighted he's decided to join us", said supervisory board chairman Clemens Tönnies on Wednesday. "He is the top-class solution I said we would present. His appointment is a major success for us in the footballing area."
Following the dismissal of general manager Andreas Müller at the beginning of March Tönnies was tasked by the supervisory board with scouring the market for a suitable replacement. Initial contact was made soon afterwards. Tönnies said: "We had lots of conversations on the subject of FC Schalke 04 away from the glare of the media spotlight. I was able to inspire him emotionally and we reached a gentlemen's agreement to the effect that if he left Wolfsburg he wouldn't go to any other club." After more extended talks Magath finally agreed to join the Royal Blues.
Tönnies is convinced Magath will succeed in his joint role of general manager and head coach. "He has the necessary authority and expertise to do the job. It may even be the model for the future", he said. The managing board, which is currently made up of Josef Schnusenberg and Peter Peters, is fully behind the decision.
The objective is clear: Felix Magath is to help put the Royal Blues back on the road to success over the next four years. Though budget on the playing side is set to be reduced by eight to ten million euros, Tönnies doesn't see any contradiction in this. "We know there may be some difficult times ahead. So we don't expect to be able to scale up our targets on the pitch right away", he explained.
Tönnies, Schnusenberg and Peters initially informed more than 50 supporter representatives of the decision before talking to the players and coaching staff and finally the media. "We have a brand new concept for the club that focuses on continuing to improve our youth work. We intend to give everybody sufficient time. I think we have a bright future", concluded Tönnies.
