Stevens returns for second spell as Schalke coach
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
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Huub Stevens has been named the new coach of FC Schalke 04, returning for a second spell as Royal Blues boss in the run-up to their Group J home game against Maccabi Haifa FC.
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Huub Stevens has been appointed the new coach of UEFA Europa League contenders FC Schalke 04, with the Dutchman returning to the club where he won the 1997 UEFA Cup as well as German Cups in 2001 and 2002.
The 57-year-old Stevens has signed a contract committing him to the Gelsenkirchen outfit until June 2013 and is set to oversee his first training session today. His first competitive game back at the helm will be Thursday's UEFA Europa League Group J visit of Maccabi Haifa FC. Stevens's predecessor Ralf Rangnick stepped down last Thursday, saying he no longer had "the necessary energy to be successful and to develop the team and the club".
A defender with Fortuna Sittard and PSV Eindhoven, Stevens moved into coaching with Roda JC before leading Schalke from 1996 to 2002. The club's fans named him their coach of the century in 1999. Since he left the northern Ruhr side, Stevens has been in charge of Hertha BSC Berlin, 1. FC Köln, Roda again, Hamburger SV, PSV Eindhoven and most recently FC Salzburg, with whom he lifted the 2009/10 Austrian title.
Schalke are fifth in the Bundesliga with four wins from seven games.
