Bundesliga
VfL Bochum parts ways with coach Thomas Letsch
VfL Bochum and coach Thomas Letsch are going their separate ways. photo
© David Inderlied/dpa
VfL Bochum seemed almost saved. After a negative series, the Revierclub is once again deep in the relegation battle. A new coach should now keep VfL in the Bundesliga.
Recently there was a worrying negative trend at VfL. VfL wants to provide information about the new coaching position as soon as possible.
Bochum actually seemed to have already been saved after a 3-2 win against FC Bayern Munich on matchday 22. In mid-February, the lead over the relegation place was already a comfortable nine points. Bochum was closer to the international ranks than to the 2nd Bundesliga. However, a subsequent series with just one point from six games caused the worries to grow from week to week.
Kuntz is probably in conversation – Stöger cancels
One candidate to succeed Letsch is said to be former U21 national coach Stefan Kuntz. The 61-year-old played for VfL from 1983 to 1986 and 1998/99. From 2006 to 2008 he was manager of the Revierclub and was most recently employed as Turkey’s national coach. In addition, the Revierclub is said to have negotiated with Peter Stöger – but the former coach of 1. FC Cologne and Borussia Dortmund will not. The short-term nature and his contract situation as Admira Wacker’s sports director “ultimately spoke against it,” Stöger told the portal “heute.at”.
Against bottom team Darmstadt 98, VfL gave up a 2-0 lead and only played a draw. However, the experience at the away game in Cologne on matchday 28 was even more dramatic. Two goals conceded in stoppage time resulted in a 1-2 defeat and, at least in the short term, a “big emptiness” at Letsch.
“Provide impetus for successful relegation”
Suddenly Bochum was only three points ahead of 16th place. “We didn’t manage to stabilize ourselves in the long term and make the last few games as successful as we could have been. The team has the quality to survive in the Bundesliga, which is why “We would like to provide a decisive impetus for successful relegation through the change,” commented VfL sports director Marc Lettau.
Sports director Fabian had already avoided making an unambiguous commitment to the coach in Cologne. However, the 36-year-old spoke about not wanting to fall into activism. “We will discuss with him what his solutions are. We are all required to keep our ranks closed,” he said after the defeat at his direct competitor.
Fabian also explained: “We will go home, analyze the whole thing and then we will draw the right conclusions from it.” From the perspective of those responsible, one of these conclusions was the separation from the coach.
Letsch took over VfL as bottom of the table in September 2022. The 55-year-old managed to stay in the league with Bochum last season and was then celebrated in the Ruhr Stadium.
This year too, VfL pleasantly surprised many experts for a long time. “I took over VfL Bochum last season when they were in last place in the table with just one point and together we still managed to stay in the league thanks to a sensational performance. I will never forget this and not only this special experience will always be with VfL, the city and the fantastic fans,” said Letsch.