Bundesliga club Hertha BSC is suffering from an almost absurd bad luck. Three days after his presentation as a savior in the relegation battle, the new coach Felix Magath, 68, tested positive for the corona virus. This was announced by the penultimate table on Thursday. He is “initially” not available for training and games. This shifts Magath’s return to the Bundesliga stage. It was originally scheduled for Saturday. Hertha welcomes TSG Hoffenheim, who immediately sent recovery wishes to the sick Magath.
As announced by Hertha, Magath will be represented by his assistant Mark Fotheringham, 38, in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday. He had already spoken for Magath in previous training sessions. The Scot has worked as an assistant coach at three different stations: at Karlsruher SC, FC Cowdenbeath (Scotland) and FC Ingolstadt. Magath had also brought former Bundeswehr lieutenant colonel Werner Leuthard back to Berlin as a fitness trainer.
Magath’s signing as the successor to Tayfun Korkut, who was sacked on Sunday, was greeted with general amazement. Magath last took charge of a Bundesliga game in October 2012, back then as coach of VfL Wolfsburg. After that he only worked abroad, at the English Premier League club FC Fulham, where he met Fotheringham, and until 2017 at the Chinese first division club Shandong Taishan. After that he only worked in an advisory capacity, most recently with the third division club Würzburg.
According to the information, Magath is vaccinated and boosted
Hertha, without a win in the current calendar year, slipped down to 17th place in the table on Saturday after losing 2-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach. They are level on points with VfB Stuttgart with eight games to go, but have a significantly worse goal difference.
According to Hertha, Magath was “almost symptom-free” on Thursdayhttps://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/.” It was clear that the task would be difficult Obstacles are added,” said Magath Bild newspaper. According to the information, Magath is vaccinated and boosted. He will be in touch with the team telematically and will also support Fotheringham with coaching on Saturday.
Hertha is one of the Bundesliga clubs that was hit hardest by the pandemic in the second half of the season. The number of players who were infected with the virus in this calendar year alone was so high that manager Fredi Bobic spoke full of gallows humor that Hertha was “infected”. Last year, Hertha was hit by a corona wave in the middle of the relegation battle. The team had to be temporarily isolated by the health authorities. Nevertheless, staying in the class was secured.