Bundesliga
“Ideal solution”: Butscher follows coach Letsch in Bochum
Heiko Butscher will look after the VfL Bochum professionals in the remaining six Bundesliga games. photo
© Tim Rehbein/dpa
After parting ways with head coach Thomas Letsch, Bochum has to act quickly and find a (transitional) solution within their own ranks. U19 coach Heiko Butscher is taking over again – until the end of the season.
In its search for a successor for the released head coach Thomas Letsch, VfL Bochum is relying on an internal solution. The Bundesliga soccer team has hired a U19 coach until the end of the season Heiko Butscher appointed as Letsch’s successor.
“Heiko immediately agreed to take on this challenge. He is the ideal solution, we are convinced of that,” said Managing Director Sport Patrick Fabian.
Butscher has stepped in several times over the past six years as a temporary solution for the professionals. “I’ve been here for so long and love this club. I can’t say no if the team needs help. And what could be nicer than training a team in the Bundesliga?” said the 43-year-old. He “very quickly came to an agreement” with those responsible for the club about this collaboration.
Butscher “very convinced” that he will stay in the league
The former central defender, who has been working as a youth coach and temporarily as an assistant coach for the professionals in Bochum since retiring in 2015, will probably only be responsible for the remaining six games of the season. “It’s designed for these six games, then we’ll see,” said Fabian. The next opponent is 1. FC Heidenheim on Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky). “We will deliver on the weekend,” announced Butscher. He is “very convinced” that he will stay in the league.
Only the day before, the club, which was threatened with relegation, announced that it was separating from head coach Letsch. The 55-year-old took over VfL in September 2022 when it was in last place in the table and managed to stay in the league. Recently, however, there had been a worrying negative trend, with only one point from six games and only three points ahead of the relegation relegation place. The consequence: Letsch had to leave on Monday.
Fabian contradicts Stöger
The names of various coaching candidates then circulated, and sports director Fabian also confirmed discussions. “It is our duty to explore the market. But in the end we consciously decided on Heiko Butscher,” emphasized Fabian.
At the same time, he contradicted former Bundesliga coach Peter Stöger, who made his rejection of Bochum public on Monday evening. The portal “heute.at” quoted the former coach of 1. FC Köln and Borussia Dortmund as saying: “I considered taking the job to get myself back into the conversation.” Fabian said: “The way he presents it in the end is only half the truth. VfL Bochum is definitely not there just to get his name involved somewhere.”