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Shock at Borussia Mönchengladbach: Virkus resigns - who will be a successor?
Roland Virkus resigns; Borussia Mönchengladbach is looking for a new sports director. Who are the favorites? Details about the situation.
Shock at Borussia Mönchengladbach: Virkus resigns - who will be a successor?
Roland Virkus' resignation as sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach poses major challenges for the club. After over 30 years in which Virkus served in different positions, his decision to return to the background was considered necessary to bring the club back on the road to success. Under his leadership, the team has only occupied places 10 and 14 in the Bundesliga in the last three seasons, which led to a deep case in the current season: After five games, Gladbach is in the last place and has not won a league game since the end of March. This worrying form also led to the dismissal of coach Gerardo Seoane, while Eugen Polanski led the last two games interim. Club president Rainer Bonhof made it clear that a new sporting orientation was urgently necessary to avoid the impending unrest in the season, especially with the important impending game against Freiburg in the back.
The speculation about Virkus ’succession is already absorbed. Numerous names are circulating in the rumor mill, including Marinko Jurendic, Jonas Boldt and also Martin Schmidt. Alternatively, some internal candidates, such as Steffen Korell, who acts as a scouting director, and Mirko Sandmöller, who heads the offspring, also have the chance to enter the footsteps of Virkus. Surprisingly, Christoph Kramer is also traded as a possible "manager trainee". The current player and world champion of 2014 has just started further training in "Management in professional football" and is actively thinking about his future after the active career.
Who could replace Virkus?
Although the circle of potential successors is great, it is now crucial to act quickly. Ultimately, those responsible have to occupy the sporting management with a person who can combine both visionary wishes and sporting pragmatics. The name Lutz Pfannenstiel in particular is in conversation after he has canceled FC Aberdeen, which indicates a serious interest in the position at Gladbach.
Internal upheaval or new wind?
- Steffen Korell (Scoutingdirektor)
- Mirko Sandmöller (Nachwuchschef)
- Christoph Kramer (aktiver Spieler und zukünftiger Manager)
The challenges for the new sports director are not getting any easier: Responsibility includes, among other things, squad planning, transfer activities and player contracts. A strategic orientation of the sporting area is essential not only to keep Gladbach in a safe harbor, but also to get it back on track DFB Academy explained. Persuasive skills and a good knack for dealing with media, fans and sponsors are also required. The coming weeks are likely to be crucial, both for the sporting future and for the fallen mood around the club. So Borussia Mönchengladbach is at a crossroads and hopes to set sail in the right direction.