Frank Kramer is Schalke’s new head coach

The official presentation of the new coach ends a long and intense search over the last few months. “We firstly asked ourselves the question of what kind of a profile does our new coach need to have so that Schalke 04 can be successful. Success in our situation means avoiding relegation in 2022/23 – that’s our aim,” said Knäbel.

An important medium-term aim for the club is to develop players and increase their values, according to Knäbel. “These values will enable the club to improve our financial capabilities step by step. Of course, we want to see us playing hungry football, with passion and bravery as part of this process too.”

The club leadership were of agreement that Frank Kramer was the right candidate. “Frank is an absolute team player; someone who can lead people and likes to surround himself with experts in order to find the best possible solution for the team. At the same time, he’s always ready to lead the way and take on responsibility. That’s a combination we see as something that’s targeting success,” said sporting director Schröder. “The decision to opt for Frank is the logical continuation of what we’ve been implementing here – being successful together for Schalke.”

Kramer’s career, which includes having worked at the highest level of the youth and professional game, fits in with the “Schalke Way” that was created in spring 2021, said Knäbel. “This club has a lot of power when we approach our challenges together. From the Knappenschmiede to the first team, everyone has to push in the same direction. We are convinced that Frank will carry out the important and wide-ranging position as first-team head coach at the club very well.”

The new head coach will have assistance in the form of assistant coaches Mike Büskens, Matthias Kreutzer, goalkeeping coach Simon Henzler and player manager Gerald Asamoah, reported Schröder. Kramer is also looking forward to his new role. “I can hardly wait to get to work with the team and staff. With 160,000 members and many millions of fans, Schalke 04 is one of the biggest clubs in Germany and the atmosphere at the VELTINS-Arena on matchdays is just amazing. I’m really looking forward to standing on the sideline as head coach and playing my part in achieving our collective goals in the upcoming season.”

Kramer continued: “As a promoted side, even as Schalke 04, so not your classic promoted side, the only goal can be to avoid relegation. The Bundesliga will be a huge challenge for us. We can only survive as a team.” Kramer has a clear plan of how to keep the club in the Bundesliga: “We need to play courageous football and bring our ideas out onto the pitch with us. If that is not possible due to the opposition or other circumstances, we will remain compact and look to be successful still.”

Details on pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season will be announced in due course.