Football Season Guide

For the third year in a row, Schalke will start a new season with a new coach after Markus Weinzierl was sacked. The decision followed a campaign in which the Gelsenkirchen club missed out on European football for the first time in five seasons. Weinzierl only managed 11 wins in a very inconsistent campaign where the squad showed glimpses of their ability but were unable to do so over long periods. Only twice in the season did the club manage to build a run of three games without defeat. The new man to take over the ailing giants is the relatively inexperienced Domenico Tedesco who takes charge of only his second senior side having been in charge of second division side Erzgebirge Aue for 11 matches last season. In that time the 31 year old managed to help the side avoid relegation and that was clearly enough success for Schalke to hire him. The appointment is a big risk but the Schalke hierarchy are hoping that Tedesco can mirror the success of another young manager in Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann. Tedesco has wasted little time in thinning out the squad with a series of players leaving, some of whom were told last season that their contracts would not be renewed. The biggest players to have left include attackers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as well as former German international Dennis Aogo. All three were unsettled and it is hoped that them leaving will bring some more harmony to the squad. Of the incomings there are no spectacular signings which is perhaps a good thing. Bastian Oczipka is a good utility defender while Pablo Insua will add another option in the middle of the defence. While the coach has clearly aimed to improve the defence, he will hope to encourage the squad to express itself fully in attack. Leon Goretzka had a fine Confederations Cup with Germany, putting him on the radar of many bigger sides. Max Meyer will hope to show his true talent under a new coach after being used sparingly last season. Guido Burgstaller managed 9 goals last term and will hope to kick on from that, though Breel Embolo will hope to start more now he is back from a terrible injury as the Swiss player is highly talented. Should Tedesco be able to harness the strength of his side they could finish in the top seven and the board certainly expect that.