Bayer Leverkusen’s current coach Jupp Heynckes will leave depart from the Bay Arena at the end of the season. The German coach will replace Louis Van Gaal at Bayern Munich this summer, being expected to make the return on Allianz Arena. Heynckes will mark his third comeback at Bayern after he coached the side between 1987 and 1991 and in 2009. Winner of the two German titles and two Supercups, Heynckes revealed that he hasn’t said yes yet although he had some talks with the Bavarians board and president Uli Hoeness.
Foto Source: mediadb.kicker.de
Coach’s last performance with Bayern includes a second spot at the end of the 2009 season which had propelled at that moment the Bavarians into the Champions League group stage. He is currently chasing the same second spot with Bayer Leverkusen who sit second within the German league with 55 points in 27 games, seven behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and five above third Hannover. On contrast, Louis Van Gaal’s side lie fourth with 48 points. Heynckes main aim is to propel Leverkusen into the Champions League group, Ballack and Co. having already proved they can do it.
Heynckes will be replaced by the current SC Freiburg coach, Robin Dutt, who will be expected to sign a two-year deal with Leverkusen at the end of the season. Dutt has led Freiburg eighth in Bundesliga after winning 11 of 27 games. Leverkusen will surely be his biggest challenge as manager, Dutt having coach small teams like TSG Leonberg, TSF Ditzingen and Stuttgarter Kickers.
Heynckes latest successes with the Bay side include clear wins over Schalke 04, FSV Mainz and Wolfsburg. Apart from Heynckes arrival and Van Gaal’s departure from Allianz Arena, plenty of other changes have occurred in the German league. Felix Magath have also been sacked by Schalke 04, the only German team remained on course for the Champions League trophy and whom Magath led through the superior phases for the first time. Josef Eichkorn replaced the German coach, while Magath returned to his former side Wolfsburg.
Schalke lie tenth in the standings with 33 points in 27 games, having lost 12 games so far. As for Wolfsburg, Magath’s new side are still struggling down the table. The former champions lie second from the bottom with 27 points in 27 games, but have some good chances to avoid the relegation zone, taking into account that they sit just two points behind VfB Stuttgart and four behind safe Eintracht Frankfurt who are also going through hard times.
Eintracht Frankfurt have also sacked Michael Skibbe on Tuesday, the club explaining that the bad relationship with the head coach forced them to make the decision. Skibbe is to be replaced by Christoph Daum who is expected to take his first training with Frankfurt on Wednesday. Eintracht lie 14th in the German league standings, having won just nine games and lost 14. They also sit just three points above the relegation zone.
