Roger Schmidt is a top candidate to start in the Bundesliga as Hertha BSC trainer, writes BILD† The 54-year-old PSV trainer, who has indicated that he will leave Eindhoven after this season, must succeed Tayfun Korkut in Berlin. It is not the first time that Schmidt has been associated with a return to his homeland. In the winter, he turned down an offer from RB Leipzig to finish the season at PSV.
From the moment that Schmidt announced his retirement from PSV, rumors of a return to the Bundesliga have been buzzing. According to BILD Hertha BSC has serious plans to bring the coach back to Germany. General manager Fredi Bobic would be very charmed by Schmidt’s working method. Large parts of the supporters in Berlin still hope for a reunion with former Hertha coach Niko Kovac, but the Croat is said to have indicated that he does not feel like a return.
While Kovac is without a club after his dismissal from AS Monaco, Schmidt has indicated at PSV that he will not continue after this season. “I am proud to be part of PSV and want to compete with the players for the trophies this season,” he said. “But I want to be free in the summer to be able to make a new decision for myself. In the summer of 2020, Schmidt became the successor to Ernest Faber at PSV, who in turn had taken over from the dismissed Mark van bumblebee.
Schmidt had the opportunity to return to the Bundesliga before, as his name popped up at RB Leipzig this winter. Schmidt previously worked in Austria between 2012 and 2014 at Red Bull Salzburg, which is a sister company of Leipzig. The coach indicated that he wanted to serve out his contract with PSV. The Eindhoven club is still active on three fronts. In the semifinals of the cup tournament, a meeting with Go Ahead Eagles is scheduled, while the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv awaits in the Conference League.
Schmidt, who is in second place with PSV in the Eredivisie behind leader Ajax, is reportedly aware of the interest from his home country. Between 2014 and 2017, the trainer was already working at Bayer Leverkusen. He also worked in Germany for SC Paderborn (2011/12) and Preussen Münster (2007 to 2010) among others. Under the coach, PSV finished second last season, the same position as it is now occupied. Schmidt won the Johan Cruijff Scale with PSV last summer at the expense of Ajax.