2nd League: Schalke and sports director Knäbel part ways in the summer

FC Schalke 04 and sports director Peter Knäbel are parting ways after the current season. The 57-year-old’s contract, which expires in the summer, will not be extended.

Knäbel informed the supervisory board that he would not be available for another term of office, according to a club statement on Wednesday. “It has been a good exchange over the past few months characterized by mutual respect, which is why Peter’s decision did not surprise us,” Schalke’s supervisory board chairman Axel Hefer is quoted there.

“Important impulses for further development” were provided

“In his departments, Peter was able to provide important impetus for the further development of the club. We are already seeing positive results in the Knappenschmiede in particular; there is a significantly higher density of top talent,” said Hefer, who thanked Knäbel for the cooperation .

However, there has recently been increasingly clear criticism of the sports director and the squad composition for which he is primarily responsible. The Gelsenkirchen team is currently lagging far behind their own demands in the 2nd league. Instead of playing for direct promotion, the Bundesliga relegated team is in the relegation relegation zone.

Coach Thomas Reis has already replaced Schalke with the Belgian Karel Geraerts. Sports director André Hechelmann will now focus even more on transfers in the coming winter change period.

Knäbel initially came to the traditional club from the Ruhr area as technical director in April 2018. He was appointed to the board in March 2021. After his term in office, he wants to return to Switzerland with his family. He has already worked there for the national football association and FC Basel.