Frank Schmidt will step down as head coach of 1. FC Heidenheim at the end of the season after nearly two decades at the helm, bringing an unprecedented coaching tenure in German professional football to a close.
Heidenheim Manager Focuses on Promotion Push
- Heidenheim’s final months under the 52-year-old manager will focus on the club’s push from sixth place in the 2. Bundesliga standings.
The End of a Historic Era in German Football
Schmidt took over the then-Oberliga side as a 33-year-old, guiding the team through successive promotions all the way up to the Bundesliga. The journey reached its pinnacle two seasons after entering the top flight when Heidenheim secured qualification for the UEFA Conference League. Following an immediate relegation back to the 2. Bundesliga last term, the club currently sits in sixth place with 15 points from their opening ten fixtures.
Schmidt Cites Desire for a Long-Overdue Break
According to the official club statement covered by regional outlets like SWP, Schmidt explained that months of open dialogue with board chairman Holger Sanwald preceded his final choice. Holger Sanwald and I stood in the last months again and again in open and very close exchange to this topic — among other things also in the past international break,
Schmidt stated. He added that the realization crystallised in recent weeks to provide the club with adequate planning stability. I have therefore informed Holger Sanwald on Monday that my contract will not be extended one more time, because after almost 20 years in the coaching office at FCH I simply want to take a break in the summer,
the manager noted. He confirmed he has made zero concrete plans for life past July 1, choosing instead to focus entirely on the remaining 24 matches of the campaign.
As reported by SWP, the native Heidenheimer stated: I want to take a break in the summer after almost 20 years in the coaching office at FCH,
and added: How long this break will be and what comes into my life from July 1 onwards, I am not thinking about currently — on the contrary: I forbid myself that until then.
Schmidt also remarked: Instead, I will give everything for our maximum success in this season until the last match.
He further stated: What is certain is that together as FCH we have written a unique story in German professional football over many years, but the final chapter is not over yet.
I am looking forward to that now and feel a great desire for it.
Board Reaction and the Search for a Successor
FCH boss Holger Sanwald praised the departing manager’s institutional impact, noting that the club’s ascent from amateur status to European competition would have been impossible without him. SWP reported that Sanwald highlighted the early notice as a crucial advantage for the front office to secure a qualified successor without rushing. The club administration emphasizes that the final outcome of the current 2. Bundesliga campaign will have zero bearing on how Schmidt’s historical tenure is evaluated, leaving the squad with a clear mandate to enjoy the remaining months of the journey together.
Sanwald addressed the departure on the club website on Monday, stating: Frank’s decision naturally marks a watershed moment for our entire club, which will unquestionably bring a huge change with it.
He further noted: What he has achieved for our FCH can hardly be described with words — without Frank as head coach, our sporting development from the amateur area all the way to the Bundesliga and European competition would not have been possible at all like this.
Sanwald added: Beyond that, he has lived out the values of our club as a role model both internally and externally like no second.
Sanwald also explained: Nevertheless, I understand Schmidt’s desire for a break and also appreciate his early decision — because of that, there is enough time to find a suitable succession.
Sanwald concluded the statement by emphasizing: We, as a large FCH family, now have the opportunity for at least 24 games to jointly prepare Frank for the greatest possible farewell that he has earned as a coach and human in our club.
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