Thomas Schaaf

Thomas Schaaf
Personal information
Date of birth 30 April 1961 (1961-04-30) (age 50)
Place of birth Mannheim, West Germany
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Werder Bremen (manager)
Youth career
1972–1978 Werder Bremen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1978–1995 Werder Bremen 281 (14)
National team
1987 Germany U21 2 (0)
Teams managed
1987–1988 Werder Bremen U17
1988–1995 Werder Bremen U19
1993–1995 Werder Bremen (assistant)
1995–1999 Werder Bremen II
1999– Werder Bremen
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Thomas Schaaf (born 30 April 1961 in Mannheim) is a former German football defender and current coach of Werder Bremen. A true one-club man, he spent his entire playing career, and so far coaching career, with Werder Bremen. Schaaf has coached the team since 1999, making him the longest serving, of the current coaches in the Bundesliga.

Contents

Playing career

Schaaf arrived at Werder Bremen's youth academy in 1972, turning professional six years later. After a slow start with the first team, where he made twenty Bundesliga appearances during four years, he eventually became an important squad member. Schaaf went on to play 262 first division matches, eventually retiring in 1994. In his time at Werder, Schaaf helped the team to the championship in 1988 and 1993, as well as two domestic cups. In the 1991-92 Cup Winners' Cup, he was on the bench for the final against AS Monaco, but replaced injured Thomas Wolter after 30 minutes, helping Werder to a 2-0 win.

Coaching career

Schaaf began his coaching career while still an active player, taking care of Werder's youth sides. After this he proceeded to manage the reserve team, before succeeding Felix Magath on 9 May 1999 as the senior side's coach, with Werder under serious threat of relegation until the last day of the season. He not only managed to avert the relegation in 1999, but also went on to win DFB-Pokal immediately afterwards. As a coach, Schaaf led Werder to the double in 2003–04, as well as the first-ever DFB-Ligapokal two years later. From 2004, the club managed to qualify five consecutive times for the UEFA Champions League,[1] coming short in 2008-09 but winning DFB-Poka (Schaaf’s third as a manager - fifth overall - and Werder's sixth), thus qualifying for the Europa League. In December 2009, he signed a new contract with Werder.[2]

Honours

Player

Managerial

See also

References

  1. ^ "Simply the best for Schaaf". UEFA.com. 11 October 2007. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=598352.html. Retrieved 18 January 2010. 
  2. ^ "Schaaf commits future to Bremen". UEFA.com. 14 December 2009. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=934611.html. Retrieved 16 December 2009. 

External links

Werder Bremen – current squad